Blue Ridge Outdoors July 2019

J U LY 2 0 1 9

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WARRIORS INSPIRING ADVENTURERS TREKKING THE COUNTRY BY BIKE, RV, AND ON FOOT

ADVENTURE WHAT FEMALES FACE ON THE A.T. M O U N TA I N B I K I N G WO R L D C U P C O M E S TO S N OW S H O E + DA D ’ S G E A R C LO S E T + 5 0 0 WAT E R FA L L S

AFFORDABLE ADVENTURE THE HALF-GALLON ICE CREAM CHALLENGE: EVERY THRU-HIKER SEEKS THE WOODEN SPOON

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TICKETED SHOWS, Mishler Theatre FRIDAY EVENING

The Clarks

Altoona First

Altoona First

with Bill Kirchen

SATURDAY EVENING

Steep Canyon Rangers with Elizabeth AMERICANA Cook

MUSIC TICKETS: $25/$60 EACH NIGHT www.mishlertheatre.org

GREAT

BEER

FREE SHOWS, Heritage Plaza, Downtown Altoona FOOD Saturday afternoon, Noon to 6 p.m.

TRUCKS

4 FRIDAY, JULY 26 & SATURDAY, JULY 27

Altoona, PA

BANDS

FOOD

TRUCKS

CRAFT

BEER

FOR INFORMATION: www.firstfrontierfestival.com

B AC K TA L K FEMALE HIKERS ON THE A.T. PRESIDENT BLAKE DEMASO b l a ke @ b l u e r i d g e o u t d o o r s . c o m E D I TO R I N C H I E F W I L L H A R L A N will@blueridgeoutdoors.com P U B L I S H E R L E A H WO O DY leah@blueridgeoutdoors.com C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R L AU R E N WO R T H lauren@blueridgeoutdoors.com A S S O C I AT E P U B L I S H E R K AT I E H A R T W E L L katie@blueridgeoutdoors.com E D I TO R I A L & P R O D U C T I O N S E N I O R E D I TO R J E D D F E R R I S jedd@blueridgeoutdoors.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER AMELIA MCCONNELL amelia@blueridgeoutdoors.com T R AV E L E D I TO R E L L E N K A N Z I N G E R ellen@blueridgeoutdoors.com O U T D O O R N E W S E D I TO R

KIM DINAN

C O N T R I B U TO R S M A S O N A DA M S A.K. CLEMMONS DA N I E L D E W I T T IAN DZILENSKI

WA L LY S M I T H E L I Z A B E T H M C G OWA N DAV E S TA L L A R D

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©2019 Summit Publishing, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Everyone is vulnerable to some degree on the A.T. There are bad and sick people in the world. The A.T. is no exception. We all need to look out for each other on the trail.

I feel mostly safe on the A.T. but be cautious, de-escalate conflict, and be able to defend yourself when necessary. —Jodi French-Burr I’ve thru-hiked too, and this kind of thing is so common. We really need more of the nice guys to speak up in these situations. Guys who sexually harass women sadly are not going to respect a woman who is standing up for herself. He needs to hear it from another man; otherwise they just think we’re being sensitive or overreacting.

—Megan Lorene

Some men are conflicted by messages they hear that to feel a responsibility for defending a woman verbally or physically is old fashioned, chauvinistic, disempowering and demeaning to women. Some of us have been rebuked by women with “I can take care of myself." —Daniel Hey I’m out here thru-hiking now.

Happy to say that I’m almost to mile 900 and have not witnessed any such behavior. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen—just that hopefully it’s trending down. Maybe it’s because I’m “older”, but all men I’ve encountered on the trail have been kind, helpful and respectful.

Nevertheless, my radar is always on, because I’m female.

—Catherine Bradley

BIKING ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY I hate rounding a blind curve on the Parkway and running up on a bicyclist going very slowly.

I've come upon a couple of them in the tunnels in North Carolina as well. Having vehicles traveling at very different speeds in the same lane is unsafe. I'm not suggesting bikes should be banned, but it does create unsafe situations. —Audie Kennedy

Cyclists have just as much of a right to use the Parkway as motorists. The Blue Ridge Parkway belongs to all of us, not just people driving vehicles. And cyclists are working a helluva lot harder for their views than someone just pressing the accelerator pedal.

—Dave Wyndham

TA L K B AC K TO U S H E R E : J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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Galleries

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B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S | J U LY 2 0 1 9 | R I C H M O N D A N D M E T R O D . C . E D I T I O N

HEADED WEST

J U LY 2 0 1 9

JULY 2019 Ah, July, it’s good to see you. We’ve been on the road for over three months now and just completed our second cross-country journey back home to Colorado.

With all of the spring snow out west, it’s been a long mud season here. So we’re looking forward to big backpacking trips, campfires with friends, and waking up at 4 a.m. to climb mountains. But great journeys call for great gear, so take a look at the stuff that keeps us going through each new adventure.

G E A R W E ’ R E LO V I N G

SEA TO SUMMIT: AEROS DOWN PILLOW PHOTO BY WILL OVERMAN

F E AT U R E S 22 DAD’S GEAR CLOSET After losing her father, a hiker rediscovers his vintage gear—and his inspiration.

24 ROAD WARRIORS Meet three of the country’s most inspiring adventurers: Daniel White biked the Underground Railroad; Fox 'n' Miles sold their home to travel the country in an RV; and Angela Maxwell is walking around the world on foot.

30 ADVENTURE PETS The region’s best hiking buddies include adventure cats, a dog thru-hiker, Rocko the Road Tripper, and a hedgehog. Get fieldtested adventure pet advice from their humans.

57 AFFORDABLE ADVENTURE You don’t need a lot

of money or expertise to explore the outdoors—especially in Chattanooga. Instead of offering softball, soccer, and basketball leagues, Outdoor Chattanooga provides introduction to activities like mountain biking, whitewater kayaking, and hiking.

60 THE HALF-GALLON ICE CREAM CHALLENGE For A.T. thru-hikers reaching the halfway point at a country store in Pennsylvania, the wooden ice cream spoon is a coveted prize. Just be careful which flavor you select.

D E PA R T M E N T S 9 QUICK HITS Selling Derby dung • Kayakers killed on the Cheat River • Snowshoe will host Mountain Biking World Cup • Summer outdoor reading list • Union Hill vs. Dominion • 500-waterfall hiker * Meet the Dog Runner

20 FLASHPOINT— THE CHALLENGES FEMALES FACE ON THE A.T. The country’s most popular footpath is not without danger, especially for women.

How should women and men respond to the recent homicide, assaults, and harassment?

64 THE GOODS Dirtbag climber Drew Mercer shares his favorite gear.

66 TRAIL MIX Steel Wheels turn in new direction with their latest album + Hackensaw Boys reboot

The latest and greatest in Sea To Summit’s line of lightweight inflatable pillows, this baby combines the reliable support of the traditional Aeros line with a new, luxurious down top that offers surprising comfort for an inflatable pillow. And it weighs in at just 2.5 ounces. We love to use ours when we’re deep in the backcountry, but also just when we’re hanging out in a hammock by the van. $60

ROOFNEST: EAGLE

As a family of three (two humans and a dog), we appreciate the extra space that Roofnest’s largest rooftop tent offers.

With interior dimensions of 6’ 10” by 55”, the Roofnest has plenty of room for all of us. But it’s the ease of use that makes it our favorite rooftop tent. You can go from parking to sleeping in a matter of minutes.

Just undo the four latches and the roofnest pops right up—and you will sleep comfortably the whole night on the 3-inchthick memory foam mattress. It mounts easily on most vehicles. $2,795

MOUNTAIN HOUSE: FUSILLI PASTA WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Want Italian in the backcountry? Mountain House has you covered. The new Fusilli Pasta with Italian Sausage is a hearty home-cooked meal for the trail— where you crave it most. The entrée consists of spun fusilli pasta in a rustic tomato sauce with fire-roasted veggies, garlic, basil, and Italian-style sausage. It’s become a go-to for late night dinners in the van after long days adventuring. And the clean ingredients list would make your grandmother proud. $10 SCHEDULE

JULY 6-7

COPPER MOUNTAIN LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO

ON THE COVER Enjoying a Blue Ridge sunset in road trip heaven after a weekend on the A.T. Photo by Steve Yocom @steve_yocom SteveYocomPhotography.com J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA

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Explore the Hiking Trails at Catoctin Mountain Park | Enjoy Cunningham Falls State Park where you will find the largest Cascading Waterfall in Maryland | Experience Covered Bridge History | Take a Stroll Down Main Street | Unwind at one of our 4 Wineries | Savor the Freshness of our Orchards | Enjoy Local Cuisine at Our Restaurants

JULY 10

July 11

JULY 21 To benefit the

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B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S | J U LY 2 0 1 9 | R I C H M O N D A N D M E T R O D . C . E D I T I O N

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QUICK HITS

OUTDOOR NEWS

BY JEDD FERRIS + KIM DINAN

BLUE CRABS MAKE A COMEBACK IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY Blue crab populations rose 60 percent in the last year to reach an estimated 594 million crabs, the highest in seven years, thanks to strict harvesting restrictions and pollution regulations enacted in Maryland and Virginia in 2008 after the blue crab population fell to dangerously low levels.

THAT’S SOME EXPENSIVE SH*T The organization Kentucky for Kentucky is selling the excrement of a former Kentucky Derby winning horse.

The turds of former Derby winner Silver Charm, who won the race back in 1997, are being hocked for $200 a pop.

Collected by artist Coleman Larkin, the droppings are preserved in clear epoxy and packaged in nicely decorated 16-ounce mason jars. Proceeds benefit Old Friends Farm in Georgetown, Ky., where Silver Charm now lives.

OSKAR BLUES VS. GUNS ‘N’ ROSES This spring, Guns ‘N’ Roses filed a lawsuit against Oskar Blues Brewery, the popular craft brewery started in Colorado that also has a large outpost in the western North Carolina mountain town of Brevard. Ticked about an Oskar Blues beer called Guns ‘N’ Rose—an ale brewed with prickly pear and hibiscus to resemble a rose style of wine— Axl, Slash, and company are claiming trademark infringement and attempting to get the beer pulled off shelves. Oskar Blues has submitted a new name for the beer: Rose All Day. The label has a secondary tag with the lessthan-subtle dig, “Heavy Metal Banned.”

BIKING FOR BLUEGRASS

KAYAKER KILLED ON CHEAT RIVER

Traveling to a festival doesn’t require a car full of gear. Just ask Atlanta resident Nick Collins, who back in the spring biked 200 miles from his home to the Aiken Bluegrass Festival in South Carolina. It marked the third straight year that Collins traveled to the popular event on two wheels.

A Maryland man was killed on West Virginia’s Cheat River after a tree fell on him during a kayaking trip. A group of three men were paddling the river from Parsons to Macomber over the weekend when severe weather rolled through. The men took shelter, but a tree fell on two of the men in the group resulting in a severe head injury to one of the men, which led to his death. Another man suffered broken bones from the falling tree.

ASHEVILLE RANKS 2ND IN BREWERIES PER CAPITA Asheville, N.C., finished behind Portland, Maine in a ranking of cities with the most breweries per capita. with 17 breweries per every 50,000 residents, while Portland has 18 breweries per the same number of residents. The firm only counted breweries within the city limits and included cider makers, too. Greenville, S.C., ranked seventh; Charleston, S.C., ranked sixteenth, and Lancaster, Pa. landed in the 24th spot.

$266,000 Amount of the fine Mountain Valley Pipeline will pay for more than 20 environmental violations, including water contamination, dating back to April 2018.

Since the project started, its cost has ballooned beyond initial estimates to approximately $4.6 billion, and a completion date is still not set.

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT IS ENDANGERED The Trump administration is preparing to announce a broad rule change to the Endangered Species Act that will emphasize economic factors when weighing whether to list a species as threatened or endangered.

HIKER MISSING IN HAWAII FOUND ALIVE AFTER 17 DAYS Amanda Eller, 35, a physical therapist and yoga teacher, went missing after heading out on a short hike in Hawaii’s Makawao Forest Reserve on May 8. Her car, keys, wallet and cell phone were found in the parking lot of the reserve, but Eller had disappeared.

Police ended their search for the missing woman after a week, but friends and family kept looking, staging a massive manhunt while combing through thick forest and jungle in search of Eller. A helicopter pilot spotted her on Saturday lying in a creek bed between two waterfalls, suffering from a leg fracture and injured ankles, but otherwise alert and in good condition. Eller says she got turned around after taking a break while walking on the trail and wandered farther into the forest in search of her car. She survived by eating wild berries and guava and drinking clear water.

J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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MEDARVA.COM/NURSES OR FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

QUICK HITS

OUTDOOR NEWS

GRANDMOTHER MOVES INTO TREE TO BLOCK PIPELINE A grandmother in Montgomery County, Va., has taken up residence in a tree near Elliston, Va., to protest the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Crystal Jean Mello, a mother of two and grandmother of one, has lived in Southwest Virginia for most of her life and is concerned about the destruction caused by the pipeline. Recent pipeline protests have resulted in felony charges against the activists. “They want to call these young people terrorists? Well, I’m Nana, and a cleaning lady, and I stand with them,” Mello told Appalachians Against Pipelines.

“They want us to be hopeless and feel like big business will always win. But we can all do little things and create big change together. Change that can beat this pipeline. We are still here.”

FLORIDA WOMAN SMUGGLES AN ALLIGATOR IN HER YOGA PANTS When police officers in Florida pulled over a pickup truck after it blew through a stop sign in the middle of the night, the driver of the truck, Michael Cody Clemons, told officers that he and his girlfriend had been collecting frogs and snakes from under a nearby overpass. Possession of many types of wildlife is illegal in Florida, so the officer asked the couple to open their backpacks so he could see what had been collected. Clemons’s girlfriend, Ariel Michelle Marchan-Le Quire, had 43 small turtles inside of her backpack. When the officer inquired if they’d collected anything else, she then pulled a foot-long alligator from her yoga pants. The couple was cited for violating state wildlife laws, and the animals were seized and released back into the wild.

THE ENDANGERED FLORIDA PANTHER IS BEING SHOT MORE THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT The Florida panther is protected under federal law as an endangered species-but that hasn’t stopped people from shooting them. Officials at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say that 36 Florida panthers have been illegally shot by people in the past four decades. Officials have successfully closed only four of the cases. The Florida panther population reached an all-time low in 1995, when only 30 known panthers existed in the wild. The population has since rebounded to around 200 panthers.

FLEX PAD SLEEVE Customize your sleep system with either a 20” or 25” wide pad

climb in, cozy up and sleep like a boss New lightweight Flex Pad Sleeve accommodates multiple pad widths FOUND IN NEW BIG AGNES SYSTEM BAGS

The Mother of Comfort · bigagnes.com J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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QUICK HITS

OUTDOOR NEWS

DIVER TO THE DEEPEST PLACE ON EARTH FINDS PLASTIC Victor Vescovo, a retired Army veteran, made the deepest dive into the ocean ever by a human in a submarine. He traveled nearly 36,000 feet below sea level into the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on Earth, only to discover plastic litter on the ocean floor. Each year, an estimated 18 billion pounds of plastic waste ends up in the ocean.

TVA CONTRACTOR SUED OVER COAL ASH CLEANUP The contractor hired by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to clean up the nation’s largest coal ash spill is being sued again for allegations that they did not do enough to protect cleanup workers from the toxins and carcinogens in coal ash and dust.

Jacobs Engineering was hired to oversee cleanup efforts of the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill, which released 1.1 billion gallons of coal fly ash slurry into the Emory River and surrounding landscape in 2008. Among other things, they did not provide HazMat suits or any protective gear for the workers who spent 12-hour days deep in toxic coal ash.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 119 cleanup workers and their families and five workers who died before the lawsuit was filed. Autopsies have shown that at least one cleanup worker died from black lung disease even though the man had never worked in a coal mine. Jacobs Engineering denies the claim, saying testing at the site showed that cleanup workers were not exposed to dangerous levels of silica found in concentrated coal dust.

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B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S | J U LY 2 0 1 9

PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR HIKES THE CLOSED GLEN ONOKO FALLS TRAIL TO BRING ATTENTION TO HIS INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN Governor Tom Wolf hiked the beloved and recently closed Glen Onoko Falls trail this week to make the case for his $4.5 billion infrastructure plan. Without approval of his plan, the Glen Onoko Falls trail, and others like it, will remain permanently closed, officials say. The Glen Onoko trail cannot reopen without at least $4 million to refurbish the eroded trail where 15 people have died and many others have been injured. Governor Wolf is pushing for a severance tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas production to finance capital projects like the one needed to reopen the Glen Onoko Falls trail. Wolf has attempted to tax shale drillers every year since he has been in office, but the gas industry has pushed back and the GOP-controlled legislature has continually rejected the idea.

MOUNTAIN BIKING WORLD CUP

CUP DREAMS SNOWSHOE RESORT WILL HOST THE SOUTHEAST’S FIRST MOUNTAIN BIKING WORLD CUP EVENT IN NEARLY 20 YEARS. BREVARD'S NEKO MULALLY IS A FAVORITE. BY

“This is the most prestigious mountain biking event in the world. For us, it’s more than a race. it’s a recognition of 20 years of advances made both here and in the region.”

-Shawn Cassell, Snowshoe resort manager

E R I C J . WA L L A C E

THE YEAR IS 2005 AND A 12-YEAR-OLD NEKO

Mulally straddles his mountain bike near the top of Snowshoe Resort’s new Western Territory bike park.

With a grin he watches former pro-downhiller and emerging trailbuilding guru Brad Stone prepare to test the park’s first big road-gap.

Without warning, Mulally noses onto the trail and passes Stone in a blur of ferocious pedaling.

“I hear Brad holler and look up to see Neko bombing the hill at top-speed,” says former Snowshoe outdoor adventure coordinator, Dave Huber. Before he could shout stop, Mulally launched into the air and soared the gap like it was nothing.

“I was dumbfounded,” says Huber.

“Brad just threw his hands in the air and shook his head.”

Mulally went pro in 2010. Though technically still a junior, he won his first USA Cycling National Downhill Championship in 2011. Last year, in addition to a second US Open, Mulally reclaimed his national title.

Going into 2019’s UCI World Cup series, the Intense Factory Racing Team rider told reporters his goal was “to place in the top 10 at all eight events.”

With the series’ championship being held at Snowshoe on the weekend of September 6-8, Mulally is a favorite.

“Neko grew up in Pennsylvania, but he was helping us build trails and riding here all the time,” says Huber.

Though Mulally lives in Brevard, North Carolina, West Virginia riders consider him a hometown hero. “He was pretty much raised in this park, it’s where he cut his chops,” Huber adds. “Neko knows this mountain better than anyone.”

To take the podium, Mulally will have to best reigning French titans, Loïc Bruni and Amaury Pierron. Bruni has won three of the past four World

PHOTO BY JACK RICE

Championships, including 2018.

Pierron claimed last year’s overall title by a staggering 294 points.

Defending junior world champ, Kade Edwards, will enter the fray as a rookie.

“These are the best riders in the world,” says Mulally. After injuryplagued seasons in 2015 and 2016, he’s happy to be back at the top of his game. But, “with a field like this, you can’t take anything for granted.”

The event is a big deal for Snowshoe: America hasn’t hosted a World Cup race since 2015; none have been held outside New York since 2005. Amid a list of powerhouse European destinations—including stops in Slovenia, Italy, Austria, England, and more—Snowshoe is 2019’s sole U.S. location.

“Hosting a World Cup Championship is huge,” says the resort’s public relations manager, Shawn Cassell. “This is the most prestigious mountain biking event in the world. For us, it’s more than a race, it’s a recognition of 20 years of advances made both here and in the region.”

In the fall of 2018, West Virginia became the 14th East Coast state to launch an interscholastic mountain biking program. In addition to hosting countless pro-level events—including national championships in 2017 and

2018—Snowshoe sponsors youth races. Mulally represents the first generation of area riders raised in modern bike parks.

“By way of hard work, investment, and continuous innovation,” says Cassel, “we’ve become the Southeast’s flagship park. We’re fast becoming the mountain biking capital of the East Coast.”

The fact the park is just 15 years old makes the achievement more impressive. In the late 90s and early 2000s, the scene was wildly different.

“Snowshoe offered hourly shuttles and we all thought that was innovative,” says Stone with a laugh.

As a concept, flow was conspicuously absent. Ditto for tabletops, berms, wood features, and platforms. “They had tons of really technical crosscountry stuff, but that was about it.”

Huber and Stone built the region’s first modern bike park in 2004 using British Columbia’s Whistler Blackcomb as a model. Securing the opening event of that year’s NORBA National Championship Series put it on the map. With educational staff, bike shop, rental center, and trails for all ability levels, the park set the bar for the region.

“Snowshoe proved resort mountain biking could make money on the East Coast,” says Stone, who went on to found one of the nation’s most respected trail-building outfits,

402 Trails. Meanwhile, “it introduced a generation of riders to [West Coast style] riding.”

After working with Gravity Logic to install dozens of parks throughout the U.S., Stone returned to Snowshoe to build jump trails in 2013. The 3-mile-long “Skyline” features 100foot bridges, 50-plus jumps, monster berms, and more. The additions boosted offerings to 40 lift-serviced routes and helped secure elite USA cycling events, including national championships in 2017 and 2018.

Racing is expected to take place in the Western Territory and will likely combine routes like “Pro DH” and “Hareball.” In addition to men’s and women’s downhill, competition will include Short Track and XC. On the women’s side, last year’s rivalry between Brits Tahnée Seagrave and Rachel Atherton is expected to play out in epic form.

For Mulally, the return is somewhat surreal.

“It’s a full-circle moment,” he explains. As a kid riding at Snowshoe, he fantasized about winning a World Championship. Working on trails, he’ll try “to balance that intimacy with the perspective I’ve gained riding some of the globe’s best parks.”

Mulally aims to show the world what Snowshoe has to offer. Nabbing a world championship would make a fine bonus.

J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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Home of FloydFest © Roger Gupta 2016

Come explore Patrick County, Virginia. Lovely covered bridges, soaring vistas on the Blue Ridge Parkway, traditional mountain music, big-time festivals, artisan studios, local wineries, bed and breakfasts, camping, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing are just some of the attractions awaiting you. From the rugged outdoors to 5-Star luxury, there is so much to discover here. www.visitpatrickcounty.org

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B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S | J U LY 2 0 1 9

Meadows of Dan Folk Fair

QUICK HITS

FIGHT AGAINST THE PIPELINE

NO FRACKING WAY UNION HILL RESIDENTS FIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM IN LOCATION OF PIPELINE COMPRESSOR STATION B Y S H A N N O N M C G O WA N

IN MAY OF 1968, VOICES DEMANDING ECONOMIC

justice and civil rights could be heard as they marched through Richmond for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s historic Poor People's Campaign. 51 years later, "We are one!" could be heard on that very same route across the Robert E. Lee Bridge.

On May 17, 2019, members of the Union Hill community along with hundreds of other concerned citizens came together at Canoe Run Park for the End Environmental Racism Now march. The march is for environmental justice in Union Hill, a historic black community in Buckingham County targeted for a massive compressor station for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

The march aims to stop the compressor station and all other fracked-gas infrastructure in Virginia.

The crowd created a sea of flags and signs reading "Stand with Union Hill, End Environmental Racism," and "No Pipeline, No Toxic Fumes." As they marched across the bridge, people chanted to a drum beat, "We don't want your pipeline—no fracking way!"

One of those voices was of Richard Walker, a resident of Union Hill whose family is rooted deep in the land. His great great grandfather Taylor Harper was a freed slave back in the 1860s.

Once freed, Harper continued to work for the slave master, with pay, and eventually bought land in Union Hill for $15 dollars. That land is where Walker and his family have resided ever since.

His land is now targeted by Dominion Energy for a compressor station and pipeline connectior. "This land has been in our family since 1885,” says Walker. “And we refuse to give it up."

Due to arson in the county building back in the 1800s, all of the original records of property owners, slave owners, and residents of Union Hill have been destroyed.

"There are literally no birth certificates, death certificates, or marriage certificates for the families

"there's no safe way that these pipelines can be built.”

-Jessica Sims, sierra club

that live out in Union Hill,” says Walker.

“We're trying to put Union Hill back on the map, so it's not being ignored."

The history is not the only thing motivating these protestors to march against the compressor station. The pollution and environmental impact greatly concern.

"Both pipeline projects are behind schedule, over budget, and can't be built without hurting air quality and water quality," says Jessica Sims, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Sierra Club Virginia. “There is no safe way that these pipelines can be built."

Sims explained that even if construction is a few counties away, the impact goes beyond the site's immediate location. Richmond will feel it, too, and it will affect the James River, which they plan to drill under.

"This is what every expert from every field has said about fracking

infrastructure from the beginning,” says Billy Davies, Pipelines Community Outreach Coordinator for the Sierra Club. “They all agree that there is no safe way and no need to build these fracking projects. The only people served are those who are building it to seek profit."

If the pipeline and compressor station are approved, Dominion has promised $5.1 million dollars to be put towards community support and public safety. Some residents see the potential relationship with Dominion as a positive for Union Hill.

"The options are a compressor station with benefits to the community or a compressor station and no benefits to the community," Joyce Gooden, who lives about a mile and a half away from the proposed location and currently resides on top of the Transco pipeline, told CBS19 News.

She claims not to have concerns of

UNION HILL RESIDENTS AND SUPPORTERS MARCHED TO STOP THE FRACKED GAS C O M P R E S S O R S TAT I O N P R O P O S E D B Y D O M I N I O N E N E R G Y.

pollution affecting her health or her cattle's health.

“We don’t have three-legged cows being born because we’re living on the pipeline,” Gooden said. “We don’t have four-eyed cows.”

Gooden sees Dominion as an incoming member of the community and wants to move forward and work with them. However, most residents of Union Hill see things differently.

The protestors believe that building the compressor station in Union Hill is environmentally racist, dangerous to the community’s long-term health, and an attempt by a giant utility to steamroll a community.

"Dominion is trying to seek eminent domain, and think they can buy us off," says Walker. "Our family has decided collectively that we refuse."

J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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QUICK HITS

BOOKS

OUR OUTDOOR SUMMER READING LIST

BY BRIAN COOKE

Check my backpack or the drybag in the hull of my kayak, and you’ll find a book. I can’t be the only one who carries the extra weight into the backcountry, ready to escape into a story. But walking into a bookstore before your big summer trip can be overwhelming. So here are eight new adventure-focused, science-filled and Blue Ridgebased books worth carrying with you this summer: Neighborhood Hawks: A Year Following Wild Birds ($19.95; University of Georgia Press) John Lane, one of the South’s most important and powerful environmental voices, is back with Neighborhood Hawks, a year-long study of red-shouldered hawks near his upstate South Carolina home. You may be able to identify the noisy redshouldered hawk, but how much do you know about their breeding? Or feeding? Or habitat? Lane sets out to introduce himself and readers to one of the South’s common, nonmigratory birds of prey by following them around his house and further afield.

The resulting story is a showpiece for wannabe amateur naturalists and a gentle reminder of the joys of backyard exploration.

Running Home ($27; Random House) Leadville 100 women’s champion and Outside Magazine contributing editor Katie

Arnold bares all in her debut memoir, Running Home. Arnold focuses on the ups and downs of the relationship with her ailing father, as well as her development as a writer and ultrarunner. Arnold’s prose is conversational and the story relatable (for runners and non-runners alike), ultimately reminding readers that even the most successful people are on the same wild ride of exhilarating triumphs and exhausting setbacks.

environmental crisis, and it’s just as difficult to believe how far leaders have gone to block solutions over the decades. This book won’t solve the ever-mounting calamity of climate change, but by knowing where we’ve been, maybe we’re better able to chart a path forward.

Katahdin or Bust ($12.95; Hinshaw and Associates, Inc.)

West Virginia, said author Mesha Maren in a recent interview, is both “the balm and the sting.” Her deep understanding of her home state is on display in her debut novel Sugar Run. The story follows Jodi, recently released from a North Georgia jail, as she journeys home to West Virginia to live off the land. She finds herself grappling with relationships, America’s changes and the difficulty of breaking free from your past actions. The narrative moves between different periods in Jodi’s life, keeping readers engaged and filling in important details. Maren’s depictions of Appalachia aren’t always flattering, but they’re honest, and if you love the Blue Ridge, you’ll appreciate the landscape descriptions.

Two-time Appalachian Trail thruhiker and professional business turnaround specialist Gail “Dr. Fix-It” Hinshaw details the “smarter, not harder” approach to long-distance hiking in Katahdin or Bust. According to Hinshaw, A.T. thru-hikers spend quite a bit of money, and most don’t ever finish the trail. Rather than winging your thru-hike attempt, comb this book for well-researched advice on packing, food, money, training, and logistics. Hinshaw’s tips will increase your chances of completing the A.T. (spoiler: Springer Mountain may not be the best starting point). This isn’t the book everyone is talking about, and it’s not hot off the press, but it’s an invaluable thru-hiker resource.

Losing Earth: A Recent History ($25; Macmillan) Nathaniel Rich begins Losing Earth with a scary thought, “Nearly everything we understand about global warming was understood in 1979.” You may have read Rich’s acclaimed New York Times Magazine piece of the same title detailing the modern political history of climate change, but this expanded version is worth revisiting.

It’s hard to believe just how close we came as a nation to addressing this

Sugar Run ($26.95; Algonquin Books)

The Sun is a Compass: A 4,000-Mile Journey into the Alaskan Wilds ($25.98; Little, Brown Spark) In 2012, Caroline Van Hemert and her husband set off on a 4,000mile, human-powered journey across the Pacific Northwest to the Arctic. In The Sun is a Compass, Van Hemert traces their journey, explaining what pushed her to leave laboratory research for a painful and sometimes terrifying expedition. The trip is borne partially from a thought many of us can relate to, one that Van Hemert describes succinctly, “Inevitably, our responsibilities would

grow; our freedom would shrink.” As a good scientist can do, Van Hemert weaves travelogue and natural history together for the adventurous layperson.

The River ($25.95; Knopf) Novelist Peter Heller’s fourth book, The River, revisits the classic river trip thriller (think Deliverance and River Wild). The book follows two college friends on a canoe trip down Canada’s Maskwa River. Miles into the backcountry, they’re confronted with wildfires, dangerous river conditions and a few questionable strangers. Most scenes are realistic and others probably worst case scenario. Either way, you’ll find yourself gripped by suspense, which Heller does well.

You’ll also find yourself relating to the main characters and their backcountry interactions.

Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home ($17.95; Mountaineers Books) Heather “Anish” Anderson’s Thirst is a worthy addition to the growing genre of long-distance hiking memoir. Much like Anderson’s record-breaking thru-hikes, this book reads quickly in its diary-like format. That format lets aspiring thru-hikers in on the mental rollercoaster of her successful Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the Pacific Crest Trail, which clocked in at 60 days, 17 hours and 12 minutes.

This account of an unbelievable feat almost didn’t make it to print because of her post-hike emotional difficulties. Lucky for us, Anderson didn’t ditch her writing, giving us a candid look at her life and adventures.

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QUICK HITS

DOGSPEED

DOGGED PURSUIT FORGET DOG WALKERS. A RICHMOND ULTRAMARATHONER LAUNCHES A DOG RUNNING BUSINESS.

BY EILEEN ABBOTT

SUNSHINE FILTERS THROUGH THE TALL TREES

that line the North Bank Trail in Richmond, Virginia. Welcome to ultrarunner Crystal Koch’s new workplace.

Koch recently took a leap of faith to start her own dog running business, which she’s named Dogspeed. For Koch, an accomplished long-distance trail runner who has four dogs of her own, a dog running business was a no-brainer. “There are so many people who do dog sitting and dog walking, but I wanted to be able to run, because I like to run ultramarathons,” says Koch. “So I figured, if I’m doing all this running, let’s see if I can get paid for it,” Koch thought of Dogspeed after working a series of temp jobs, trying to find a permanent role. A dog running business was the perfect solution.

“You don’t have to have money (to start it). You don’t have to have a place to work from,” she explained. "You just have to have a reliable car—one you don’t mind getting dirty.”

“The dogs are my kind of adventurers," Koch says. “They love to do everything. They play. They don’t complain.”

Besides the emotional boost, there’s also a physical bonus. “I honestly believe most dogs would choose trail running if they could talk and tell us what they want,” Koch says.

“I have watched them get the best smiles on the trail. I think dogs are happier in the woods in general.”

Just like humans, each dog has their own pace and way of running.

“Often at the beginning of our time together, the dogs don't know how to run like humans: that is, a steady pace without much stopping. It's usually somewhere around the 5th run that it clicks, and the dogs truly start running and enjoying the process.”

She adds, “I’ve also noticed some dogs need to do more than run…some dogs need the adventure of rock hopping, chasing sticks, and climbing.

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And a lot of dogs need their brain exercised just as much as their body.”

Koch often uses a hands-free leash for more adventurous runs. “Often I have to be patient as I get jerked toward a squirrel. On windy days, smells swirl together, and I think some dogs like to chase down a smell.”

Sometimes nature calls, and the dogs need a running break.

“You do have to pick up a lot of poop. That’s just part of being a good trail steward.”

But for Koch, Dogspeed is a dream come true. She’s strengthened her own running with the miles she logs each day, and she always has a running partner.

As for daring to start her own business, Koch says, “I’m not a big fan of letting fear stop me from doing something.”

We asked Koch some common questions from readers about trail running with dogs: Are some dogs better at running?

I don't think there is much of a restriction on type of breed or build that can become a trail dog. My

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personal dog is a large pit mutt who absolutely loves the dirt and can run 15 miles. Dixon is a 27-pound sheltie who loves to run far but does not like getting dirty. Seriously, he gives me some nasty looks when we are on the dirt for an extended period, so our runs are 95% asphalt. Ultra legend Catra Corbett runs with Truman, her dachshund, on the trails in California.

The dirt trails mean there will be more smells and, just like for humans, it's softer on their joints. I believe this is far more dependent on their personality than their breed.

How do you deal with dog conflicts out on the trail?

I have had to get vocal and sometimes confrontational with other humans, especially when their dog is off leash.

My policy is the dogs I'm with do not get to meet other dogs. Mostly I step to the side and let the other human and dog pass while keeping the dog I'm with close to me.

How do you feel about leash laws and poop-scoop regulations?

For the most part, I'm 100%

C R Y S TA L K O C H L A U N C H E D A D O G R U N N I N G B U S I N E S S I N R I C H M O N D , VA . , T O H E L P H E R A N D H E R F O U R LEGGED FRIENDS SPEND MORE TIME ON THE TRAIL.

supportive of leash laws and poop scoop regulations. Most people do not bother to train their dog and always say, "But my dog is friendly."

Or their dog is far off trail chasing something which is dangerous for wildlife and the dog. A dog isn't a natural predator in most situations, and we know better so we need to do better.

As for picking up their poop, I used to have a more lackadaisical approach until I started doing some research and realized how bad dog poop is for the environment. Now I am never without poop bags or extra leashes.

Plus, piles of dog poop littering a park is quite unsightly.

Any advice for aspiring trail runners and their dogs?

Patience and a hands-free leash.

Your dog will want to sniff everything and pee everywhere, but with time, patience and understanding, y'all will be knocking out those miles in no time.

CHASING WATERFALLS

500 WATERFALLS

on where I found them, but I did want to name at least one after him.

JUSTIN HOPKINS HIKED TO EVERY WATERFALL IN TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA

Do you keep some locations secret to protect them from being overrun?

Yes. There are some places that may not be too far away from a very good tourist area, and if it’s on the tributary of a creek next to a pretty popular hiking trail, and someone knows it’s up there, before long there’s gonna be a worn path, trash, graffiti on the rocks.

It’s not a risk that I’m willing to take.

BY WILL BAHR

IN APRIL, JUSTIN HOPKINS BECAME THE FIRST TO

complete the 500-waterfall challenge in Tennessee and North Carolina. He bagged the challenge in under three years, amounting to approximately one waterfall every two days. For Hopkins, it was both a daunting physical challenge and a much-needed refuge from devastating personal loss.

What inspired you to begin chasing waterfalls?

Actually, the inspiration came after my nephew Owen passed away from childhood cancer. Basically, it was a brain tumor that he had at the base of his brainstem. It’s a type of cancer they have not found a cure for, a very rare type, and he passed away before he

even made it to age one.

Why do you think that that was your response to Owen’s passing?

Whenever anything has gone wrong in my life, any time any turmoil or just any distraction in life has come about, I always go to the woods.

I even named a waterfall that I found after Owen on one of my trips, one of the only ones that I named.

I found several waterfalls that were undocumented. I’m not one to give names or to disclose any information

You tackled another kind of challenge through these 500 hikes.

Through the 500-Waterfall Challenge, I also found sobriety. Of course, that’s a challenge every day that I go through, and that I succeed in every day. And I know this might sound a little corny in ways, but just to challenge myself to be a better father, to be a better husband, find ways to do that. Every week, make time to be that better man and that better father.

What actually qualifies as a waterfall?

That’s a lively debate among waterfallers. Everybody has their own

conception of what a waterfall is… I went to some waterfalls and would say, “Good Lord, that’s a waterfall?” And then I’d pass up something big that doesn’t appear on a map and think, “Holy cow, how in the world has that not even been named?

What lessons did you learn from the experience?

Well, for me, I believe that everybody should spend time outside. A lot of people’s problems, whatever they stem from, can benefit from being outside. Whenever you get away from anything that’s bothering you in life, when you get away from all the turmoil in society these days—if people would just take a step back, turn off their phones, turn off their TVs, go outside, go sit out by a river somewhere, they would be surprised what they would find. Maybe they could find a calm in their life, something to ease their pain in a sense just by going and sitting by water. Water is a very powerful source.

It’s a very powerful force of nature, too. I believe there’s a lot of healing in water.

a t e G . d n e i r f l ree Fishing is always better with a friend. Refer a friend into to fishing to win prizes.

visit dgif.virginia.gov/refer-a-friend for more information J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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FLASHPOINT

W O M E N T H R U - H I K H I N G T H E A .T.

INSTINCT AND EMPATHY

THE CHALLENGES FEMALE HIKERS FACE ON THE A.T.

BY CAPPY PHALEN

My instinct told me to run. It also told me not to run while the man could still see me.

Feigning calm, I walked slowly away from him and out of his sight. The moment I felt sure he could no longer see or hear me, I ran.

THE TRAIL COMMUNITY—LIKE EVERY COMMUNITY—HAS NEVER BEEN AS SAFE FOR WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND OTHER M A R G N A L I Z E D P E O P L E , S AY S C A P P Y P H E L A N .

T H AT N E E D S T O C H A N G E N O W.

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It was spring, and I was hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail. I’d been on the move since sunrise, and I’d felt a profound sense of relief when the shelter had finally come into view late that afternoon. The next shelter was five miles up the trail, and as there were only a few more hours until nightfall, I figured this was the one I should call home. I walked in, weary smile, and nodded at the three people inside. But something was off.

A man was talking loudly at two college-age boys whose postures curved into something eerily resembling submission. When I entered, he shifted his attention in my direction, only briefly, and then turned back to face the boys. Avoiding eye contact with me, he began berating women as a collective, asserting that we were f*cking weak and didn’t belong on the trail, and furthermore that we would all f*cking quit when we found out how difficult hiking really was.

I stiffened, feeling delirious. I glanced at the boys, thinking they might come to my defense, but they remained silent, their spines frozen into question marks, leaving it unclear what they stood for. At the time, I thought them cowards. In hindsight, I have a bit more empathy. Nevertheless, I felt angry. I didn’t want to camp near that kind of energy, so I told them I’d be hiking on and wished them a good night. I’d just camp somewhere farther up the trail alone, I thought. I’d done it plenty of other nights.

The man had other ideas. He swiveled his head to look at me.

“Oh,” he said, “I’m coming with you.”

On a primal level that superseded conditioning, I knew I needed to get away.

“I’m meeting someone up the trail,” I told him. “Have a good night.” It was a lie, but I hoped it was enough to make him decide against following me.

He replied that he would come as soon as he was finished eating.

“No, I’m going to be late and they’ll be looking for me. Enjoy your food.”

I turned to leave. “I’ll catch up to you,” he said.

I didn’t say anything. I walked purposefully out of his sight wanting to seem calm and then I ran.

I was not fit. It hurt, but adrenaline helped. When I would get tired of running, I would walk a few strides, catch my breath, then pick up a jog again. Anything to keep moving. I wanted so badly to stop and pitch camp in the woods, but if he found me, I would be alone and vulnerable.

Driven by fear, I made it to the shelter just before nightfall. There were more than a dozen tents pitched around it, and I exhaled my relief at the feeling of safety.

I later found out that a man by the same description had been threatening to kill hikers while they slept.

The night with that man had been the most frightening experience on the trail, but it was by no means the only time a man acted poorly during my hike. The week prior, a different man had exposed himself to me. I’d thought perhaps he had just been relieving himself, but then the incident happened again, with the same man, when he had tracked me and waited for me alone on a mountaintop. I told him if it ever happened again he would regret it, picked up my pace and left him far behind.

A few days after those incidents, I made it through the Smoky Mountains in the pouring rain and lightning, and onto the welcoming dry porch of a hostel. I was exhausted and soaked down to my socks. The manager of the hostel sat in a rocking chair under the awning, and I asked him if there were any beds left.

He leered at me. “You can share mine,” he said.

I was not alone, that time. There were three boys who I had been hiking with standing next to me. Two of them

laughed when he said this. The other looked a bit uncomfortable, but he said nothing. I was tired and didn’t have the energy to explain why that kind of comment felt harmful to me, so I just shook my head and said that I’d like a different, empty bed.

Later, the boy who had said nothing came to sit next to me. He looked ashamed and asked if what the man had said made me uncomfortable. I replied that it had but it hadn’t seemed worth acting upon. He listened quietly and appeared to sympathize. There was one other man in the room at the time. Upon hearing this conversation, he looked up at me and told me in no uncertain terms that he thought I was being “too sensitive” and “needed to just get over it.”

I didn't need to learn that I am less safe because of my womanhood: that lesson has been clear to me since I hit puberty. What's needed are men who hold each other accountable for their behavior.

A phrase I hear often from men regarding rejection is “she could have been kinder about it.” Could she? If, when I tell a stranger politely I am not interested, he grabs me and tries to pull me into his seat to convince me otherwise, isn’t it understandable that I would be a little more blunt in my next rejection? If casual encounters regularly devolve into harassment, isn’t it understandable that a person might be more hesitant to enter a conversation that held all the same cues as previous conversations that had ended in violence, verbal or otherwise? The reasons why anyone who is not straight, white, or male tend to default to self-preservation is often misunderstood by those who do not experience threats in the same way.

The man who told me I was being overly sensitive is but a small drop in an ocean of doubt aimed at those who are forced to walk through the world differently than those who look like the people who wrote the laws and formed the structure of society at large.

A hiker was murdered and another maimed on the Appalachian Trail the

same weekend I wrote this essay. The behavioral descriptions I could find for the suspect mirrored the man I had met in the shelter perfectly.

The victim of the murder was a male. Ronald Sanchez, Jr. His companion who was maimed was female, and it is likely that she only survived because her instincts told her to play dead. As soon as her attacker was gone, she dragged herself two miles to find help, and upon finding folks willing to help her had to walk another six miles to safety.

I mourn for them. I mourn for the terror that the murderer leaves in his wake. I mourn for the murderer, too.

The trail is a peaceful place for the most part. But I have read many versions of the sentiment that this is not the trail community. And in part that is true, that such an extreme event is rare. But the trail community—just like every community—has never been as safe for women, people of color, LGBTQ and other marginalized people, as it has for straight white men.

There are good men to balance out the bad, yes. But I need to see more from them.

I reflect upon the men I’ve observed remaining silent, or perhaps laughing, when something unkind was said to or about a woman in their presence. I think of the times I’ve been silent at my own expense because I knew biting back would have cast me as a nag/mood killer/bitch.

Women cannot create lasting change without the help of men.

It takes people from all groups looking out for each other to catalyze progress. Men need to hold each other accountable for their behavior, even and especially when no women are present.

The months I spent hiking were an incredible experience and a privilege.

I wouldn’t trade them. But they could have been different. I believe I have made the most of what I learned, but I didn’t need to learn that I am less safe because of my womanhood: that lesson has been clear to me since I hit puberty. What I needed was the reminder that came from the men who showed me empathy, and then I need those same men to learn to be allies in front of other men, not just in private with women.

J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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Dad’s Gear Lending Closet AFTER LOSING HER FATHER, A HIKER REDISCOVERS HIS VINTAGE GEAR—AND HIS INSPIRATION

BY CARLA FRANCIS

ACCESSING THE RICHES OF DAD'S GEAR LENDING CLOSET CAME

with one stipulation: Lecture Time, abbreviated to “LT.” Want to borrow his vintage Sigg Tourist Cook Set? No problem, but first a long-winded lesson on how to light and care for the stove we'd been using our whole lives. After his death in August, I carried it out of his house, no LT required, confident on how to use the old fire can like I'd done all over the Southeast: Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock, the Cohuttas, the Okefenokee, Cumberland Island. He rolled over in his grave a few months later when I discovered from a frigid backcountry campsite that the stove runs on white gas, not kerosene.

The gear lending closet opened for business as my brothers and I fledged into the soft opening of adulthood, college. I became a customer freshman year as I prepared for a 4-night Cumberland Island backpacking trip led by the University of Georgia. My dad was delighted to fully outfit my friend and me for what would be my first time backpacking without him.

He assembled everything we needed from his stock, including external frame Kelty packs, pre-fueled Sigg stove, Backpackers Pantry meals, and assorted other essentials, like Cognac.

The first night at Yankee Paradise campsite, the trip leader barked out the rules, including the prohibition of alcohol. The second night, the flask of Cognac leaked into my friend’s backpack. We managed to clean it up undetected. Unfazed by our island mishap, and having matriculated at Emory when the drinking age was 18, my dad's reply was that Cognac was essential to backpacking. Who were we to argue with the guy who’d just enabled us to spend an unforgettable weekend surrounded by Spanish moss and white sand beaches?

Five years later, having proved a trustworthy borrower from the gear closet, I moved to the Hudson Valley with a long-term loaner tent. It was a Barney-colored North Face from the early aughts, a replacement for the weathered dome infamous for its failure during a Tray Mountain thunderstorm. The requisite “LT” preceded my departure – don’t take anything sharp in there, reseal the seams if it leaks, practice setting it up, have fun, take pictures!

I didn’t know a soul in New York state, and Dad must have hoped that the tent would help me find a tribe of “my people,” as camping had done for my parents early in their marriage. My brothers and I grew up on their tales of rafting the Gauley and camping Kentucky’s rolling hills. That year I camped all over New York and Vermont with my new tribe of dirtbags, one of whom I married last year.

My dad loved to spin yarns from his tenure as a Boy Scout leader, where he led my brothers’ troop on 22

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hikes throughout the Southeast. He led trips under one condition, that his daughter could go too. His work schedule gave him a limited amount of time outdoors, and he wanted to make sure he shared it with all of his children. Initial pushback was overcome when other troop leaders were unwilling to lead hikes; better to let the girl go than not go at all. I was one of the scouts slogging through the North Georgia mountains, saddled in technicolor fanny packs and oversized t-shirts.

Because my dad included me on outdoor adventures, I formed a view of the outdoors as a genderless setting; a place open to all who are confident and capable. I view white blazes, muddy trails, and silent rivers without the cataracts of fear and doubt. I formed my own opinion of the outdoors, which I trust over the opinions of women who warn me of bad things that happen on the trail, or men who “mansplain” the dangers that await. I’m not naive to others’ stories, just confident in my own experiences.

The Conasauga River Trail was the last backpacking trip that my dad and I took together, along with my husband Brian and a buddy. You never know which trip will be your last with someone, but this one was memorable before its posthumous label. I took the lead in coordinating gear, arranging a shuttle, and route planning. The trip leader mantle was on my shoulders.

Shoe choice is problematic on a trail with nearly 40 river crossings, and a slippery misstep in Chacos by my dad led to a broken metatarsal in his foot.

That night at camp he got an extra helping from the floppy flask, cementing our conviction that Cognac is

T H E A U T H O R ' S F AT H E R S E AT E D AT A C A M P S I T E ; O N E O F H I S C L A S S I C STOVES; AND ONE OF HIS LAST CAMPING TRIPS WITH THE AUTHOR.

essential to backpacking.

Backpacking the Conasauga wasn’t perfect, but as Yvon Chouinard said, “It’s not an adventure until something goes wrong.” Whether it’s a broken foot, illicit Cognac, or a lost trail, I’ve learned that mishaps are a stepping stone to reaching the peak, accessing the isolated wilderness, or communing with the dawn chorus.

My dad taught us everything he knew about outdoor recreation and gave us the tools we needed from his own gear closet. Sure, I could have figured these things out without his example, but would I have? It took me longer to be an independent recreator because of my reliance on the gear closet and his trail knowledge, but I don’t begrudge him that. He wanted me to love and enjoy the woods without worry.

The gear lending closet closed for business last fall, after cancer robbed us blind of our robust and charismatic dad. My brothers and I gathered to divvy up the stock. By then, much of the gear was dated and worn, with the old external frame packs and disintegrating sleeping pads sailing into a roll-off dumpster. The goodies and sentimental pieces we kept: the Barney-colored tent to Paul, a sleeping pad to Dan, the temperamental Sigg stove to me.

These items will wear out over time, but what won’t wear out is the confidence that he gave us to access the outdoors. To me, this is the most valuable inheritance of all.

Virginia is For Lovers® was created in 1969, and it’s become one of the most beloved and iconic slogans in the world. There’s no better way to celebrate “50 Years of Love” than with a road trip to Virginia’s renowned LOVE signs.

With more than 150 to choose from, where will you begin? virginia.org/love

road warriors

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO JUST HEAD OUT ONTO THE ROAD AND SEE WHERE LIFE TAKES YOU? BRO TALKED WITH SOME PEOPLE WHO DID JUST THAT. WE FOUND OUT HOW THEY ARE TRAVELING, WHAT THEY WISH THEY HAD KNOWN BEFORE STARTING THEIR TRIP, AND THE THINGS THEY LEFT BEHIND FOR A LIFE ON THE ROAD.

By Foot

When Angela Maxwell left Bend, Oregon, to walk around the world, she left one box of stuff at her friend’s house. Everything else, she sold to help fund her walk.

“It has books and a pair of cowgirl boots in it,” Maxwell said. “I just couldn’t part with them for some reason.”

Walking around the world wasn’t some grand adventure that Maxwell had planned for years.

“I started it because I felt called,” she said. “I couldn’t explain it. I can’t say I loved walking and so I decided I wanted to walk the world. No, it was just you are supposed to go walking. That’s the package it came in. I don’t want the Pacific Coast Trail or the Appalachian Trail, I want the world.”

Before starting her own adventure, Maxwell spent a few days walking with Karl Bushby. Since 1998, Bushby has been attempting to walk an unbroken path around the world.

“Watching him cook his meals or pitch his tent, I was thinking, 'How am I going to do this?'” Maxwell said. “I was borrowing a friend’s gear and had never pitched a tent. Some people would probably judge the fact that you don’t want to do things like that unprepared. But I was just so excited about giving it a shot with someone who knew what they were doing that I was willing to make a complete fool of myself.”

She picked up a lot from Bushby and other walkers, like Rosie Swale-Pope, about the equipment she would need on the road.

“I thought a backpack would be the way to go,” A N G E L A M A X W E L L , W I T H H E R C A R T AT H E N A , S TA R T E D T H E U . S . L E G O F H E R WA L K I N WA S H I N G T O N , D . C . , T H I S A P R I L . P H O T O B Y E L L E N KANZINGER.

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Maxwell said. “However, luckily, there are people before me that have done crazy walking, running journeys. I couldn’t carry enough and that just sounds excruciating. I’ve done enough hikes to know that’s not going to feel good on my spine and shoulders.”

After a lot of trial and error, Maxwell eventually landed on a rickshaw pram that allows her to set the balance. She can push or pull it depending on the landscape and what feels more natural.

Once she got started, Maxwell learned a lot just by being on the road.

“I was definitely that novice adventurer carrying way too much,” she said. “I started out with 100 pounds of stuff, before water and food. I still had way too many clothes. I was carrying two air mattresses at one point. I forgot you can get things on the road.”

In the last five years, Maxwell has walked over 20,000 miles in 13 countries, including Australia, Mongolia, and Italy. She lives on five dollars or less a day and carries everything she needs in her cart, including her tent, air mattress, two sleeping bags, clothes, a bacterial and viral water filter, alcohol stove, camp chair, and flip flops to air out her feet.

As she walks from Washington, D.C., back to Oregon on the last leg of her journey, Maxwell is looking forward to finishing where she started.

“Five years on the road has been a good time for me to get to know myself a little better,” she said. “I think I saved the U.S. for last because I wanted to have the experience under my belt. I wanted it to feel like a homecoming. This point where I can walk up to my best friend’s house and be like, hey, I made it back.”

Maxwell is partnering with Her Future Coalition as she walks the United States, giving talks and inviting people to join her on the road for a few

miles. She is helping the organization raise money to build a shelter for children at risk of human trafficking to have a place to go while their parents work.

“I chose, as a privileged American, to go walking around the world,” Maxwell said. “I chose to have no shelter. I chose to leave behind my business consulting. I chose to leave the comfort of my home and only walk with what fits into a duffel bag. I walk with a choice of where do I want to go? What country do I want to walk? What direction do I want to take? I feel a lot of freedom in being able to choose things.”

TRAGEDY AND SURVIVAL

Maxwell’s walk has not been without its struggles.

She got dengue fever from a mosquito bite and spent a month recovering in Vietnam.

And one night in Mongolia, a man raped her. She had set up her camp for the night, and as darkness fell, a man came into her tent and attacked her.

She tried to fight back, but she couldn't reach her axe. She survived, and when he left her tent, she huddled into a ravine to wait for the sun to rise.

“As I sat there that night, I knew that this was the big point that would change my life forever,” Maxwell said. “Do I go home, or do I just keep walking? When the sun rose, I put some Elle King in my ear, and I decided to keep walking. I knew that once I chose to continue walking, I had to not only forgive him, I had to forgive myself for thinking in any way I could have prevented it.”

The incident did not stop Maxwell from doing what she knew she was meant to do.

“The thing is, being fearless is a myth,” she said.

“I think that’s become my perspective on the walk.

I’m not fearless. And I don’t think people who do these extraordinary things are fearless. It’s more of how do people feel the fear, and then keep doing it knowing that the fear is still there.”

That’s something Maxwell wished she heard more about before she started her walk. She wanted to hear that the people she looked up to were just as terrified as she was.

“Everyone wants to know about the danger,” Maxwell said. “That’s what makes a good adventure story. But not everyone talks about the journey.

Where does bravery and courage come from?

Are people born with it? Are they naturally more courageous than other people? Or is it something that you can fine tune and sharpen. In my experience, it is something that is within all of us.”

Maxwell has found strength on her walk through the people she has met along the way.

“I’ve had people kind of veer on the road, pretending to hit me because they thought that was funny,” she said. “But I will say that the kindness of people outweighs the people who don’t know how to react to me. I wouldn’t have made it this far if it weren’t for the help of strangers that then become friends.”

While walking has become a lifestyle for Maxwell, she said she’s looking forward to having a place to come home to every night. But she doesn’t plan to give up walking entirely.

“I’d like to think that at my mom's age, I’m walking across Croatia or something,” Maxwell said. “It could be a lifelong thing. I’m still walking around the world, just much slower. I have that in mind but who knows what life’s going to throw at me.”

Answers to some of Maxwell’s most asked questions: 1. She only goes through one pair of shoes a year but is constantly changing out the insoles.

2. She downloads offline maps from Pocket Earth to navigate.

3. She prefers trails but her cart usually doesn’t fit.

She tries to find back roads with less traffic.

WATCH A HIGHLIGHT REEL OF ANGELA MAXWELL’S ADVENTURES AROUND THE WORLD AT BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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By Bike

It didn’t take long for Daniel “The Blackalachian” White to decide he wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail. He started his thru hike in April 2017, three months after he first heard about the trail.

“After hiking the A.T. and getting to know a lot of people out there thru hiking, I realized that a lot of those people had been planning that trip for years,” White said. “They had a lot of connections to it.

They may have grown up around one of those trails, maybe had a parent or family member who hiked the trail, just had more of a connection with it. I didn’t.”

When he finished the trail in September, he started thinking about what his next trip might be and how it would differ from his thru hike.

“There was very little processing and getting to learn and have respect for it [the A.T.],” he said. “I felt kind of bad about that, actually. Somebody has been planning for four or five years and here I am like oh yeah, I’ll hike it. So, I wanted to find another trip that was more personal. Something I can get a little more culture and more feeling out of.”

While doing research online, White came across maps from the Adventure Cycling Association. That’s when he decided to bike the Underground Railroad, a 2,010-mile trip that starts in Mobile, Alabama and winds its way through Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and New York to end in Owen Sound, Ontario.

“It was a new challenge, something different,” he said. “I wanted to see how it would feel to have all that weight powered strictly by my legs instead of carrying it on my back.”

To prepare, White watched a lot of YouTube videos to see what other long-distance bikers packed.

“I know from the A.T., when you’re doing something like that, you kind of got to find your own way,” he said. “You can take tips and advice and try to tweak them to fit your style. They always say if you don’t use it in three days, you can probably send it home. So just learning that and getting a feel for things.”

As he biked, White started sending things home that were just taking up space. He was able to get water in the towns he passed through, so he didn’t need his three-liter water filter. He got a feel for the bike’s balance, so he didn’t need the scale to make sure the weight was distributed evenly.

“I sent my rain gear home in Louisville, Kentucky, which I wish I wouldn’t have done,” White said. “That was a pretty dumb idea, but it was just so dry most of the trip. I probably could’ve used that once I got up to Pennsylvania and it started raining for five days straight.”

The trail is a combination of old logging roads, highways, and paved rail trails. White averaged 50 miles a day and finished in 49 days.

“My biggest day was 91 miles,” he said. “I went from Erie, Pennsylvania to Buffalo, New York. But I was riding from eight o’clock that morning ‘til like 10 o’clock that night. So, I wouldn’t suggest that.”

Along the way, White interacted with the history of the country and learned about the thousands of people who escaped slavery along the route. He 26

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W H I T E S T O P P E D AT VA R I O U S U N D E R G R O U N D R A I L R O A D M A R K E R S A L O N G T H E WAY, INCLUDING HARRIET TUBMAN’S HOME.

knew some of the places and names. Then there were the names he didn’t recognize, like York, an enslaved explorer who participated in the Lewis and Clark Expedition westward.

“There’s a monument of him [York] in Louisville, Kentucky,” White said. “I had never heard of him in my life. To get to read his story and see that he went with these guys the whole trip, I would venture to say he probably helped Lewis and Clark make it all the way west. Then he had to come back after that trip ended and continue to be a slave.”

At the end of his trip, he toured Harriet Tubman’s home in Albany, New York, with his mother.

Unlike his thru hike, White found himself the only one on the Underground Railroad.

“The A.T. has such a large community with all the people that have thru hiked it, it becomes sort of like a fraternity,” he said. “I thought I was going to be out there by myself, just hiking and having a good old time. That aspect of it is totally different because I didn’t see anybody else doing this trip. I didn’t even come across any long-distance bikers on the way.”

Riding through towns, people would stop him and ask what he was doing.

“I think I would make their day,” White said.

“When I come in, I’m looking all crazy. My hair is wild.

I’m 6’3”, this tall black guy in the middle of Alabama riding a bike. You know it kind of looks a little weird sometimes. I would definitely get a lot of questions.”

But the people he met along the way were all supportive and wanted to help out.

“It was all love,” White said. “That was from all races, all colors and creeds. That’s why I think it was important for me to film and blog everything. We have to show there is unity out here in this world because there’s so much division being shown daily.”

In May, White spent a few weeks hiking the Great Outdoors Challenge in Scotland. He said one day he might bike from Canada to the tip of South America, but he’s taking it one road trip at a time.

CHECK OUT OTHER LONG-DISTANCE BIKEPACKING TRIPS: 1. Cross back and forth between Virginia and West Virginia on the Allegheny Mountains Loop.

2. Challenge yourself as you ride through some of the South’s most beautiful scenery on the Trans North Georgia route.

3. The Appalachian Gravel Growler takes you to some of the best breweries in the state as you ride 217 miles through the mountains of North Carolina.

By RV

When Alecia and Jamiel Cal-Pin started talking about RVing full time, they were living in a condo in Washington, D.C. “We were trying to think about the next step, like an apartment or something,” Jamiel said.

“That’s the usual plan. You start small and then you work your way up. You buy your first house, and then you get a bigger house because you have kids and stuff. The idea of going from the little condo that we had to then getting into something even smaller was interesting.”

Alecia, whose family had grown up vacationing in RVs, knew what to expect. It took a little more time to convince Jamiel, who didn’t like the seemingly instability of living on the road.

“We were trying to figure out how we can manage our debt, because we both have student loans, and still be able to travel,” Alecia said. “I thought if we live in an RV, our margins would be much bigger. So, when I really gave it to Jamiel as an idea, that’s when he started to reconsider.

Maybe this could be a good idea, especially if it’s helping us get out of debt.”

“We’re both relatively young so this seemed like the opportunity to do it,” Jamiel said. “We don’t have kids and we’re not necessarily tied to anything in this area.”

The couple, who go by Fox and Miles on Instagram, have taken to documenting and

blogging about transitioning to RV life full-time.

“Learning from other people’s experiences and their mistakes is really valuable, which is one of the reasons we’re sharing our journey,” Alecia said. “We’re learning stuff as we go along. We’re so grateful for YouTube because we learned what to look for when buying an RV, what to ask about.”

In searching for the right vehicle, they wanted something that wouldn’t break the bank but would give them enough space to run their businesses from the road. Alecia is a singer and photographer while Jamiel is a voiceover artist and podcaster.

“We don’t want to go into further debt trying to get out of debt,” Alecia said.

That’s when they came across Cruise America.

The used RVs were within their price range and had plenty of room.

Next came the hard part—reducing everything they owned down to what could fit in Darla, their Class C RV. “That process was laborious and tedious,” Alecia said. “The process for choosing what we would need was really being honest. Have I worn this in the last 30 days or in the last season? Am I going to wear it in the next season coming up?”

As they whittled their stuff down, they donated most of their possessions and moved out of the condo. The couple stayed with Alecia’s mother as they got the RV ready for full-time living, removing the couch to make more room, painting the interior, and installing a solar panel on the roof.

A L E C I A A N D J A M I E L C A L - P I N W I T H T H E I R R V, D A R L A .

“We’re trying to cut costs wherever we can,” Alecia said. “So, while solar panels are pretty expensive up front, in the long run, they save you money because you don’t have to plug in at an RV camp. Depending on where you are, it can be really expensive, especially the resorts. We don’t need all of that. We just need our basic necessities.”

They had to learn how to deal with various problems as they popped up, from expired tags and inspections to a leaky roof and air conditioner.

“There’s a learning curve,” Alecia said. “Lower your expectations. I think YouTube, and media in general, has this way of glamorizing a lot of things. They don’t show you the ugly side, like the parts where you argue with each other because something’s not working right.”

As for where they will travel, the Cal-Pins will sprinkle in places they’ve always wanted to visit with a few commitments throughout the year, like conferences and visiting family.

“We’re focusing on the national parks,” Jamiel said. “That is another motivation that we have, as we’re going on this journey. We want to highlight the availability of national parks for people of color.

We want to be able to go to these places and share our experiences, share our story, and encourage other people of color that these parks out here. All of these beautiful resources are available, and they J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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need to be explored and be embraced.”

Some family members were worried what the couple might face on the road, traveling while black in America.

“There were some people who expressed concern because that is a reality,” Jamiel said. “It’s not to say that we don’t think we’re going to have a great time or anything like that. Not everybody is racist. But just that reality. If we go back and consider parks and RVing, it was something that was considered what ‘white people’ do.”

Other friends were worried the couple would get tired of each other.

“I don’t think so,” Alecia said. “He’s my best friend. We spend a lot of time together anyway. I do understand that we’ll both need our space. But if there’s anybody that I would want to travel the country with, it would be my husband.”

As they prepare to head out on this journey, Fox and Miles are looking forward to seeing more of the country and growing artistically, together.

ROAD TRIP TIME: 1. Drive the entire length of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia on Skyline Drive, stopping at overlooks and trails along the way.

2. Dive into 300 years of history and fall foliage on Maryland’s Historic National Road.

3. Visit the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia by way of Scenic Highway 197, a route moonshiners used during prohibition.

ALECIA AND JAMIEL PA I N T I N G DARLA.

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The Best Hiking Partner ADVENTURE PETS OF THE BLUE RIDGE

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

W

hen Grizel Williams decided to thru hike the Appalachian Trail with Rue, her 3-year-old rescue dog, she knew a lot of people would have an opinion about her decision.

“There are people that are really excited about me and Rue, and then people who think I’m abusing my dog,” she said. “I know that it’s the right thing, but a lot of people don’t think so. It’s a constant battle every day because there are so many people on this trail. But when I go to bed at night and I see her little face and I know she had the best day of her life today, I feel like I’m doing a good job.”

Williams thru hiked the Pacific Crest Trail southbound in 2018, leaving Rue behind for the four months she was gone.

“It was really lonely on the PCT,” she said. “It was so freaking lonely and hard. I missed Rue so so much. Even though I was pretty lonely, I loved what the trail brought out in me and this person I became from it. I got the thru-hiking bug. I thought if I do the A.T., there’s no way I can’t bring Rue to have a companion with me to talk to and cuddle with at night.”

Having already done a thru hike made the decision to bring Rue along easier.

“If that was my first thru-hike, I wouldn’t have taken Rue,” Williams said. “I was going through too much on the PCT to worry about Rue. But now that this is my second thru hike, I know what to expect from my body so I can focus all my energy on Rue and make sure she’s okay.”

Rue has always been an athletic dog who is happiest running around outside.

“She gives me so much joy,” Williams said. “I guess I wanted to give her the same amount of joy that she brings me.”

Although she had taken Rue on shorter day hikes and weekend camping trips, a thru hike would be a completely different experience.

“Thru-hiking is its own world,” Williams said. “I didn’t even thru hike until I thru-hiked. You can’t prepare yourself enough, so I didn’t expect to prepare Rue for a thru-hike either. I trained her a lot, but that’s as far as I went.”

In their training, Williams focused on commands she would need Rue to follow when they were on the trail together. In addition to loose leash and heel training, they also worked on the leave it command so that Rue would pay attention when they came across other wildlife.

“I’ve gone through a lot with her,” Williams said.

“When I first got her, she had some aggression issues and I had people tell me to put her down.

But we’ve worked a lot on that. I get nervous to talk about that stuff because a lot of people have issues with dogs who struggle with stuff. But I feel like if we can believe in humans, why can’t we believe in dogs' recovery as well?”

There is not a lot of information about how to train a dog for a thru-hike, so Williams made up a lot of it as she went.

“I’m not going to say that dogs are like people,” Williams said. “I know that they’re different. But the same way that there are so many opinions on how to raise a child, there’s a lot of opinions on how to G R I Z E L A N D R U E O N T H E A . T. P H O T O B Y S A M U E L M A R T I N

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train a dog and how to take a dog on trail. If you want to take your dog and you feel like you’re being completely honest with yourself that you think that your dog could do this, follow your gut. You’re going to get a lot of hate, like I have. You have to trust yourself and kind of forget the haters. You know your dog better than anyone else ever will.”

Before leaving on the trip, Williams got the okay from a veterinarian that Rue was ready for life on the trail.

“It’s a really emotional bond I have with Rue,” she said. “I was told to give up on her, but I didn't, because she’s never given up on me. To be told by a vet and dog trainers that she could do this, that she was trained well enough to hike the Appalachian Trail, was one of the biggest victories for us. As much as I want her here, it’s important that she’s enjoying it and her temperament is right for the trail.”

On Their Way

The dog and hiker set out from Georgia on March 9. At their current pace, Williams estimates they will finish the 2,100+ mile trail sometime in July.

“Thru-hiking is a weird sport where you push yourself a little bit more than feels comfortable at first,” she said. “In the beginning, I didn’t know how to do that well with Rue. At first, I was playing the caution card to learn what Rue is like on the trail.

The beginning of a thru-hike is all about testing out things.”

Williams carefully watched Rue, looking for signs of her slowing down or waking up with less energy.

Some days Rue wore her Groundbird Gear pack and some days Williams carried it with her own pack.

Some days they wouldn’t hike at all in order to give Rue extra time to rest.

As spring began to warm up, Rue began struggling with the afternoon sun and heat. Williams knew something had to change if she wanted to keep her dog on the trail. So, she started waking up at four in the morning to be off the trail before the afternoon hit.

“I hike Rue’s hike,” Williams said. “As much as it is about me learning and growing as a person, which I still feel like I’m doing, I cannot push myself as much as I would want to on my body because that’s not fair to Rue. That’s why this is such a bonding experience because I’m constantly making sure that she’s happy. If she’s not happy, what is the point of this whole thing to do with her? She has nothing to prove. Whatever I decide is going to affect her.”

Hiking with Rue also means Williams has been a little more disconnected from the rest of the thruhiking community.

“A lot of people are scared of dogs and that’s totally fine,” she said. “I respect people’s fears.

Because of that, we have to isolate a lot and stay to ourselves more. You don’t know what people’s journeys have been with dogs. Some people have been bit by dogs. People are sacrificing so much to complete a thru-hike that I don’t want to interrupt anybody else’s journey.”

There are also a few places along the A.T. that don’t allow dogs on the trail, like the section that runs through the Smoky Mountains. For those miles, her partner picked Rue up and Williams hiked solo

for a few days. They met back up where dogs were allowed again.

“It kind of felt like a huge missing piece,” Williams said.

“As soon as she left, I did these 27, 30-mile days. These crazy miles. That’s how I deal with my emotions.”

In the time she was by herself, Williams said she noticed the ways she was hiking differently without Rue. “She’s so good at stopping and smelling things and being so present,” Williams said. “I can kind of get carried away and do a shit ton of miles unnecessarily. So, for her to be like hey, look at this flower that I’m smelling for way too long. Or look at this piece of shit I found on the trail. She’s so good at slowing me down.”

At the beginning of May, she made the decision to take Rue off trail. They were almost to the halfway point in Harper’s Ferry, but Williams could tell Rue was struggling with the heat.

“I promised myself I would stay honest throughout this process, simply because I love her too much,” Williams wrote on Instagram. “I feel a multitude of emotions—sad, relieved, confused—but mostly proud. I just want to say a special thanks to everyone who has supported Rue throughout this whole journey.

It has been such a beautiful and bonding experience that I’ll never take for granted.”

Although Williams will finish the A.T. without Rue, there are many more adventures to come for the two best friends as they enjoy the trails and each other together.

ADVICE FROM GRIZEL AND RUE Stop at every water source along the way: “I sleep with an extra liter and a half of water because she gets really thirsty after dinner. Most dogs don’t drink enough during the day so at night they are storing up.”

Be aware of your surroundings: “I don’t use headphones when I’m hiking with her because I want to be able to hear things before anyone else.”

The Best Life a Dog Can Have

Growing up, Cherisa Hawkins’ family always had boxers. She started working with Atlanta Boxer Rescue because she loved the breed so much.

“Rocko was my third foster working with them,” she said. “When I picked him up from the animal shelter, he was 45 pounds. He was completely emaciated. He didn’t have any energy, so I had to

C H E R I S A A N D R O C K O AT M A X PAT C H , N . C . , O N T H E I R R O A D T R I P. PHOTO BY ADRIANA GARCIA.

hand feed him the first night. I think that’s where we really bonded. Just for me, having to give him the extra love and attention, he got really attached to me and I got really attached to him. I decided to keep him.”

Boxers are a social breed and Hawkins discovered Rocko enjoyed playing outside.

“I want to give him the best dog life he can have,” she said. “A part of that is being outdoors and being free when he has the chance.”

Hawkins started watching YouTube videos on how to teach Rocko the come command. She reinforced that training with treats and positivity on the trail.

“When we first started hiking, we only hiked in the city,” Hawkins said. “We hiked around the Chattahoochee and within the perimeter of Atlanta so there were no major hills or switchbacks that he had to do. I tried to train him like I would train my own body. They just can’t jump into it and go. Every J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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winter when we start hiking again, he has to condition just like I do.”

Because of his breed, Rocko has a shorter nose and wider chest. Hawkins said she usually takes him out in the spring and fall since he can overheat easily.

“When we do hike in the hotter days, I have to be very careful to make sure I take trails that are located along water,” she said. “I’m always on a trail where I can stop by the river to let him get in the water and cool off. He suffered from heat stroke about three years in from me having him.

That was a very expensive experience.

So, I’ve just learned that if it’s too hot, he doesn’t go.”

Since Rocko experienced that heat stroke, Hawkins knows the signs to look for. When she notices his ears turning pink underneath, his gums getting red, or excessive panting, she knows it’s time to cool down.

As long as it’s not too hot, Rocko will carry his own Ruffwear pack with food and other supplies. Hawkins makes sure the pack weighs no more than a third of his body weight.

“When he sees it, he gets really excited,” she said. “He knows he’s going to hike.”

When she’s camping close to home, Hawkins will bring Rocko along so he can spend more time outside.

“I’ve learned over time what he does and doesn’t like about camping,” she said.

“I have to tailor it to make sure I fit his needs. I carry just about as much stuff for me as I do for him. He loves camping in spring, summer, and fall. He does not like it when it gets cold. He’s not a fan, even in his fleece vest, boots, and doggie puffer R O C K O C A M P I N G AT V O G E L S TA T E PA R K . P H O T O B Y C H E R I S A H AW K I N S . jacket. He prefers to stay in the tent and doesn’t want to move.”

Last fall, Rocko went on his first trails, they’re going to be different than when they’re extended camping trip in a van from Atlanta to the at home. When he's on the trail, he gets to eat a little Asheville area. more of a fatty diet. He gets a little more possessive “I think he may have preferred that over camping of me on the trail. It’s just giving your dog time to a little more because he was able to have his own adjust to being outside, especially if they’re house corner in the van where he could curl up and go to dogs.” sleep,” Hawkins said. “I didn’t have to worry about Do your research: “It’s best to know the terrain, him being too cold or too hot or tired or sore. It was know their allergies, and just start slow.” nice having him as an extra blanket of security, which is why he camps a lot with me. He’s the additional comfort I have with me when I’m out by When Laura Moss first started Adventure Cats, she myself.” had no idea she would one day have almost 150,000 After that experience, Hawkins said she hopes followers on Instagram. she’ll be able to take Rocko on more longer camping “I noticed a trend of more and more people trips. taking their cats out on adventures, and I was “Before he gets too old, I want to do a cross curious about how people went from basic leash country road trip so that he can go with me from training to taking their cats on road trips, camping, start to finish,” she said. “I do get sad when I go to and hiking,” she said. “I started talking with cat California to camp and I don’t have him. I just really owners, veterinarians, and behaviorists and putting miss him a lot.” it together as an informational resource for anybody ADVICE FROM CHERISA AND ROCKO to have access to. It got a lot more attention than I ever expected. I realized there were so many more Know their trail personality: “When they’re on the people than I even knew about who were taking

All Pets Are Welcome

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their cats on these adventures.”

In addition to maintaining the website and social media accounts with her husband, Cody Wellons, Moss also wrote Adventure Cats: Living Nine Lives to the Fullest. The book is a mix of inspiring cat stories, photographs, and tips for other cat owners.

“I’ve gotten to travel a lot and go on hikes with cats all over the country,” Moss said. “I’ve met cats paddleboarding and camping. There’s a cat in Hawaii that surfs. There are a couple cats in Colorado who go rock climbing, both outdoors and in the climbing gym. It just depends on the cat and what they become comfortable with.”

Moss and Wellons have adopted two cats, Fiver and Sirius Black, and a dog, Maeby. Moss trained the cats when they were older, so they are not as comfortable on longer trips. But they enjoy walking around the neighborhood as “close to home adventure cats.”

“Sirius was very easy to leash train,” Moss said.

“We put him in it, and he was ready to go. Fiver is a bit more standoffish and very stubborn. We started him off by putting his harness by his food bowl or putting treats on it, so he started making that positive connection each time. With cats, it’s got to be positive reinforcement. That’s how they learn.

The first time we put him in the harness, we gave him more treats so you’re always leaving on that good note.”

When it comes to training a cat, Moss said it often comes down to personality.

“Some cats aren’t going to be as comfortable outdoors in an unpredictable environment,” she said. “But I think we underestimate what cats are capable of. A lot of people make this assumption that cats sleep 16 hours a day. When cats are in the wild, they don’t sleep that often because they’re hunting, exploring, playing. I think our cats aren’t engaged enough.”

There are many different ways cats can get outside, from hiking with a leash to a walk around the neighborhood in a stroller. Moss emphasized that how cats are getting outside isn’t as important as if they are getting outside.

“We want to rebrand cats in a way,” she said.

“There are all these negative stereotypes that we buy into like the crazy cat lady. Men are hesitant to adopt cats because they think it’s a feminine thing to do. So, part of what we want to with Adventure Cats is change people’s minds about what cats are capable of and what cat people are like. We really hope by doing that, we can get more cats adopted

(ABOVE) SIRUS BLACK LEASH TRAINING. PHOTO BY CODY WELLONS. (RIGHT) MAEBY ON A CAMPING TRIP IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLIBA. PHOTO BY CODY WELLONS.

in shelters.”

Moss recommended taking cats out in the mornings or evenings when they are less likely to become dehydrated or sunburned. She also uses the American Red Cross Pet First Aid app to deal with any emergency situations that may arise.

SIRIUS BLACK LOOKS OUT FROM A W I N D O W I N H I S B A C K PA C K . P H O T O

BY CODY WELLONS.

ADVICE FROM LAURA AND HER ADVENTURE CATS Carry your cat outside: “If you’re going to take your cat outside on the leash, you always want to carry your cat outside. You don’t want your cat to get used to walking out the door on their own because they might do that without a harness one day.”

Watch their water intake: “Cats don’t drink like we do, or dogs do on a hike. You want to prevent dehydration, so one thing you can do is bring canned wet food because cats are more likely to take in water that way.”

J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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more adventure pets!

ADVENTURE IS NOT JUST FOR OUR LARGER, FURRY FRIENDS. ANGUS AND MOODY ARE A PAIR OF HEDGEHOGS WHO LOVE TO EXPLORE. “My goal is to one day have a farm and have all kinds of animals,” said owner Noelle Faria. “We’d previously had guinea pigs, but my husband was very allergic to them. I was researching pets that are more friendly to people who have allergies and hedgehogs are one that do really well.

Since they have the quills, they don’t have the dander that most small, furry animals have.”

The Farias adopted Angus in the summer of 2017. A year later, Moody joined the family when Faria saw an adoption posting in one of the online hedgehog communities she joined.

While the hedgehogs aren’t going on long hikes and overnight camping trips, they are exploring the Farias' fenced-in backyard.

“I had read that in the wild hedgehogs have been tracked to run 5 miles in a single night, which is pretty impressive considering just how many steps that would be for their tiny stature,” Faria said.

“Curious, I installed a bicycle odometer on

A N G U S , L E F T, O N T H E BEACH AND MOODY IN T H E B A C K YA R D . P H O T O B Y N O E L L E FA R I A .

Angus' wheel to see just how far he was running.

Sure enough, he hit around 4 to 6 miles each night.”

Angus has made it out to the beach on a family vacation and Faria said she hopes to get Moody out there as well.

“Hedgehogs are super sensitive to temperature,” she said. “Their enclosures are kept between 72 and 80 degrees. If they get below that, they can go into hibernation and that can be really dangerous for them, even lethal. But going to the beach in the summer, there really wasn’t a big concern with that.

It was a great opportunity for me to let him get out in

the outdoors and explore a little bit.”

At home, Angus and Moody do most of their exploring in the evenings because hedgehogs are nocturnal animals.

“They’re not going to be active during the daytime,” Faria said. “Usually when we hang out with our guys is around dusk because that’s more likely when they’re waking up and want to interact with you. They are definitely more of a niche pet but they’re really sweet animals and for the right person, I think they’re really great pets.”

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE

A ROADTRIP GUIDE TO THE BLUE RIDGE

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

PRINCE WILLIAM VIRGINIA

Walk on water on the brandnew Neabsco Creek Boardwalk – a ¾ mile scenic walk over historic wetlands.

MANASSAS NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK

Prince William, Virginia is home to over 38 square miles of public green space that provides adventure lovers picturesque places to hike, bike, boat, kayak, fish, and stand-up paddleboard. After experiencing some 155 miles of trails located near riverfronts and mountain views, make time to experience the many top attractions and museums, exciting events and festivals, outlet shopping, live music, agricultural and art treasures, and over 20 craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries. It’s time to plan your trip to DC’s Countryside!

PLAY Rock out to live music at Jiffy Lube Live, a 25,000 seat outdoor amphitheater, or at Farm Brew Live, a sprawling 10-acre entertainment campus, or at one of the many craft breweries, wineries, or distilleries on the Steins, Vines and Moonshine Trail. Take in the scenery at the new Neabsco Creek Boardwalk that is part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, or find outfitter gear at Cabela’s, Duluth Trading Company, Timberland, Orvis, REI and others. Explore American history at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Manassas National Battlefield Park, Leesylvania State Park, Ben Lomond Historic Site, Bristoe Station Battlefield, or at Prince William Forest Park.

EAT Grab an ice-cold beverage and pick crabs at some of the top seafood houses in Northern Virginia or get your hands dirty devouring southern BBQ at one of the many local joints. If finer dining or ethic cuisine is more your speed, you won’t go empty handed when you visit Prince William.

STAY Over 4,500 affordable hotel rooms are available throughout Prince William that are located near Interstates 95 and 66.

The state-of-the art National Museum of the Marine Corps honors, preserves and narrates America's story through

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

WINCHESTER VIRGINIA

Old Town Winchester is the perfect place to grab a drink at one of our four craft breweries or enjoy a relaxing evening on the Lake at the Cove Campground.

Where in Virginia do 200 restaurants, 5 battlefields, 4 craft breweries, Virginia’s oldest walking mall, and 19 huge apples coexist? Where does the Shenandoah Valley intersect with Patsy Cline’s final resting place? In the perfect Virginia vacation getaway: welcome to Winchester. An oasis for outdoor lovers in the Northern Shenandoah Valley, Old Town Winchester has transformed itself in the past 5 years to a vibrant cultural, shopping and dining hub while still maintaining its authenticity and small city feel.

EAT Get outstanding, no frills BBQ, burgers, and local beer at Shaffer’s BBQ in Middletown. Eat inside at this old converted gas station, or sit outside at the covered picnic tables and overlook Belle Grove Plantation and the Blue Ridge Mountains. While in Old Town Winchester, slip on up to Sweet NOLA’s for live jazz and creative, locally-sourced dishes with serious New Orleans flair, or have an incredibly hearty local breakfast at Bonnie Blue Southern Market & Bakery.

STAY Truly escape to the Japanese-style Pembroke Springs Retreat B&B, just steps from the Tuscarora Trail. Be treated to amazing Japanese cuisine, and of course don’t miss the authentic spring-fed Japanese baths. If you’d rather be in the heart of the action, stay at the upscale George Washington—a Wyndham Grand Hotel in Old Town Winchester. Or unplug from your hectic life in a rustic lakeside cabin at the Cove Campground and enjoy their beach, hiking trails and huge ATV park.

PLAY Looking to avoid the crowds on the AT and Shenandoah National Park this summer? The Tuscarora Trail is a 252-mile official bypass route of the Appalachian Trail, and offers shelters and wellmaintained trails, great vistas and numerous access points in the Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Serene moments, great vistas and more challenging hiking await you on the Tuscarora Trail near Winchester.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

MADISON

SHENANDOAH COUNTY Palmyra Church Road Group by Synaptic Visuals riding down a

VIRGINIA

Come find 50 ways to FALL in LOVE with the Foothills—Old Rag Mountain and White Oak Canyon Falls are two of Shenandoah National Park’s favorite hikes—and stay for the all the rest! With the history, artisans, scenery, fishing, the Annual Taste of the Mountains, Graves Mountain Lodge’s Music and Apple Harvest Festivals, Bald Top Brewing Co., and the many wineries, there is plenty to do! Stay in a B&B, cabin, camper, RV, lodge, vacation rental house, tent, or even a yurt! Madison has it all away from it all!

VIRGINIA

Bald Top Brewing Co. is a destination Farm Brewery on 55 acres of historic land.

Visit Yoder’s Country Market for home-baked breads, an assortment of foods, gifts, and a petting zoo!

Shenandoah County calls you to breathe the mountain air and experience the thrill of summer outdoor recreation. Enjoy shady trails on foot or on horseback. Bike the mountains and scenic backroads, or float down the Shenandoah River in a canoe for great fishing or a leisurely paddle. Six charming small towns along Route 11 in the Valley between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains offer an essential hub of places to stay, eat and shop after a full day of river, sky and mountain adventures.

Enjoy kayaking the Shenandoah River.

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY

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Shenandoah County has plenty to offer the outdoor enthusiast whether by air, on the ground or along the river.

• Hike, bike or horseback-ride through some of the 178 miles of trails through George Washington National Forest. You’ll find trails to suit every skill level.

• Enjoy the slow and lazy bends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River by canoe, kayak, or simply wade in and go fishing.

• Take your car or bicycle along the scenic country roads for pastoral views of farmland and mountains.

• Get a bird’s eye view of the valley with zipline adventures, skydiving or floating in a hot air balloon.

Madison’s wineries all offer beautiful views and outdoor activities. Bald Top Brewing Co. has an outdoor event stage and beer garden along with some walking trails and outdoor fun. Hoover Ridge offers shaded walking trails for less treacherous hikes. Equestrians can enjoy the extensive trail systems offered

by Graves Mountain Stables or Shenandoah National Park. There are many scenic country roads for cycling. Enjoy some of the best fishing anywhere along the Rapidan, the Hughes, the Robinson, and the Rose Rivers.

Visitors can even fish at Rose River Farm while staying in a luxurious yurt, or stay at Graves Mountain Lodge and fish in their trout pond.

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scenic road of the Blue Ridge.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

HARRISONBURG & ROCKINGHAM VIRGINIA

Located in Dayton, VA, the Silver Lake Bed and Breakfast was originally constructed in 1750 and was restored in 2015. Guests have the opportunity to embrace the history of the central Shenandoah Valley with modern & luxurious accommodations. Wildwood Park offers picnicking & trails along the North River.

Nestled in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, bounded by two magnificent mountain ranges and the impressive Shenandoah River, Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are must-see destinations that boast diverse outdoor recreation, thriving cultural attractions, vibrant and inviting small towns, numerous historical attractions, and farmto-table dining opportunities.

Situated just two hours from D.C. and minutes from the George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park, its central location makes it an easy destination for a day, weekend, or week-long trip.

TASTES FOR EVERY APPETITE Not only is the area home to bustling farmers markets featuring local produce, but it also houses a community of restaurants that bring farm-fresh to life in their unique dishes.

With an array of flavors to satisfy everyone's palate, try eateries like The Cracker Pillar or Ciro's Italian Eatery. Those looking for something more daring can check out BoBoKo Indonesian Café or Beyond Restaurant. Whether you prefer to dine rooftop, on the patio, or in a historic building, there’s a restaurant for you in this dining destination.

ADVENTUROUS BY NATURE Situated in the shadows of the Allegheny, Blue Ridge, and Massanutten Mountains, this vibrant destination boasts a diverse mix of county trails, bike-friendly streets, and challenging mountain bike courses. Canoeing, kayaking and tubing with Massanutten River Adventures is popular with locals and visitors. Head underground at our local caverns to discover the wonders of nature. Whether your preferences range from tame to extreme, Harrisonburg and Rockingham have attractions to get your heart pumping, your mind expanding, or to let you simply relax.

PLAC ES TO STAY After exploring and discovering, rest your head at one of the countless hotels, refurbished historic homes, or four-season resort. Enjoy comfort and luxury atthe beautiful B&Bs and historic inns. Wherever you choose to stay, you’ll find friendly folks to make sure your visit is pleasant.

Rafters enjoy a trip from Power Dam to Island Ford landing. The Float is located near McGaheysville, VA. VISITHARRISONBURGVA.COM

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

MASSANUTTEN VIRGINIA

LOCKN' FESTIVAL A breathtaking property, Massanutten Resort® features 6,000 acres of mountain fun at its very best.

Adrenalin zip Unique in both its size, variety of amenities, and line experiences outstanding condo and hotel accommodations, offering breathtaking Massanutten has secured a top spot as a premier views! all-seasons resort destination on the East Coast.

Amenities include the Indoor/Outdoor WaterPark, Ski and Adventure Park area, mountain and valley golf courses, farm-to-table dining experiences, shopping and recreation options, along with a day spa for complete relaxation and rejuvenation.

VIRGINIA

Lockn’ Music Festival in Nelson County Virginia features four days of music, outdoor adventure and Your outdoor music fellowship, featuring Trey Anastasio Band, adventure begins Lockn’ Festival at Tedeschi Trucks Band, Bob Weir & Wolf Brothers, August 22-25.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Vulfpeck, Gary Clark, Jr., The Revivalists, Old Crow Medicine Show, Galactic, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and many more! Enjoy glamping, tent camping, award winning local Virginia craft breweries, and local and regional cuisine. Buy tickets online now!

Two non-stop music stages featuring Bob Weir, Trey Anastasio Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band and many more.

Gravity-fed mountain bike experiences for all abilities!

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY

A true Blue Ridge experience, Massanutten’s endless outdoor adventures, like the new, four-hour rappelling excursion, expanded zip line courses, skiing, and mountain biking, provide special experiences for outdoor lovers of all abilities, in every season. Besides breathtaking views, there are also many opportunities to observe an abundance of wildlife right here on the resort. And, if you have some extra time, Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive are less than 15 minutes away!

Massanutten Resort offers a variety of stay and play vacation packages and day trip opportunities, along with creative and affordable group and wedding options.

The gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains await your adventure at Lockn’, from morning Yoga in Garcia’s Forest to WaterLockn’ in the local Tye River. Play and stay with a variety of camping options from Glamping with your friends to Forest camping, tent and car camping and VIP / Super VIP camping options still available! Enjoy the local slow roasted pit Bar-B-Q at the Hammageddon Pig Statue with Master Chefs from the region, and be sure to visit the best local breweries and cideries to quench your thirst. Two stages of non-stop music from morning to late night, and trail bike riding programs at the Lockn’ Trailhead.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

ROANOKE VIRGINIA

Have a beer on the patio at the East Coast headquarters for Ballast Point Brewing Company in Botetourt County.

During summer months, tube rentals are available at Waid Park for floating on the Pigg River.

Photo courtesy of Matt Ross & Franklin County Parks & Recreation

Are you ready to be a #Trailsetter and plan your next metro mountain adventure in Virginia’s Blue Ridge? With over 1,000 miles of trails, Virginia’s Blue Ridge is the ultimate destination for outdoor recreation. We’re the only IMBA Silver-Level Ride Center on the East Coast, which makes us America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capita. There’s also incredible hiking on the Appalachian Trail and fun paddling on the Upper James River Water Trail. Choose your own path.

Be a #Trailsetter.

Singletracks recently highlighted Carvins Cove in its list of "Best Mountain Bike Trails in the Southeast."

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VIRGINIA’S BLUE RIDGE CHEERS TRAIL When they say they have trails for everyone in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, it includes those who want to check out the local food & drink scene! Virginia’s Blue Ridge Cheers Trail is a collection of nearly 30 breweries, wineries, and craft spirits producers located in the region. Each one features their own unique flavors and atmosphere that serve as great spots for a post-adventure drink.

STAY You’ll love taking advantage of the new overnight lodging options at Roanoke County’s Explore Park. Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 115, the park offers primitive camping sites, RV sites, yurts, bell and canvas tents, canvas and pod cabins. Surrounded by trails and with easy access to the Roanoke River, this is the perfect spot for the outdoor enthusiast.

GO OUTSIDE & PLAY A #Trailsetter can make Virginia’s Blue Ridge their personal outdoor playground with all the amazing options for hiking, biking and paddling. Lace up your hiking boots and conquer the Virginia Triple Crown. The three hikes along the Appalachian Trail that make up the Triple Crown—Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs—feature some of the most beautiful views in Virginia. If you’d prefer to explore the region on two wheels, check out the awesome mountain biking at Carvins Cove and Mill Mountain Park, one of the best urban trail systems in the nation!

For paddling, the Upper James River Water Trail, Roanoke River Blueway, and Pigg River Blueway are beautiful waterways for a relaxing float or paddle.

Twin River Outfitters and Roanoke Mountain Adventures are local outfitters with rentals, guide and shuttle services to help you plan your adventure.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

VIRGINIA STATE PARKS

HERE SINCE THE BEGINNING

The New River Trail’s level grade and wide path are great for both hikers and horses alike. If you’d rather spend the day on the water, the trail offers paddlers and anglers with easy access to 39 miles of riverfront.

Need a boat or horse?

The Foster Falls area has you covered.

Virginia State Parks are home to some of the state’s most iconic natural wonders. Hungry Mother was considered so scenic that it was picked in 1936 to be one of the first six state parks opened in Virginia.

The 850-foot long, 10-story high Natural Tunnel was carved by Stock Creek over thousands of years. And New River Trail, contrary to its name, gracefully meanders beside one of the world’s oldest rivers.

COME OUT AND PLAY Guests marvel at Natural Tunnel, the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” from Lover’s Leap and the tunnel’s floor. Nearby is the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center, which sits at edge of Kane Gap. The center preserves the story of what had been the gateway to the West.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge, the 108-acre Hungry Mother Lake laps at sand beaches. A dozen miles of singletrack trails on slopes of the surrounding mountain provide breathtaking views and exhilarating descents.

The park’s restaurant is also a must.

Along the 57-mile New River Trail, guests run, ride, paddle and fish. Multiple access points provide visitors of all abilities a chance to enjoy this rail-to-trail park.

The Foster Falls area offers guided horseback trips, canoe and bike rentals, a boat launch and gift shops.

STAY A WHILE With nearly 300 climate controlled-cabins and more than 1,800 campsites, it’s easy to turn your day at the park into a night you’ll never forget. For larger groups, picnic shelters and special venues are also available. Just call 800-933-7275. Wherever you’re coming from, Virginia State Parks has a place you can call home.

Walking bridge at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, Virginia.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

THE HEART OF APPALACHIA VIRGINIA

Buena Vista & Rockbridge County, Virginia The Historic Inn at Wise was built in 1910 in a colonial revival style. It offers modern amenities, a restaurant, diner, and pub and is the centerpiece of downtown Wise, Va. Birch Knob Observation Tower offers unmatched views of the Cumberland Mountains and - on a good day - offers views toward six states!

DRIVE IN DANIEL BOONE'S PATH The Heart of Appalachia, in Southwest Virginia, covers the last frontier of Virginia. The Cumberland Mountains that made Daniel Boone a folk hero during his westward expansion still warrant exploration. Trails to hike or bike, roads to ride on two or four wheels, and the most biologically diverse rivers known in North America await you. The breathtaking views, the one of a kind natural wonders, and the pure mountain air will make you want to explore all there is to offer!

Natural Tunnel, dubbed the eighth wonder of the world, has been a tourist attraction for hundreds of years. The first European-American to see it was Daniel Boone. It is the centerpiece of Natural Tunnel State Park.

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The Inn at Wise offers unmatched accommodations for any traveler. If camping or cabins are more your thing, there are plenty to choose from, as well. The Sand Caves near Ewing are great, if you'd like a hike. Also, catching a show at the Lee Theatre in Pennington Gap is always rewarding. You'll have to check out Wilderness Road State Park, and drive through Natural Tunnel, on your way to the Daniel Boone Interpretive Center in Duffield. While in that area, a hike to the Devil's Bathtub might be up your alley!

Traveling Route 619 will take you to High Knob—one of the best areas for hiking and biking in the region. Outfitters in nearby Norton will rent you whatever you need for your exploration! A kayak trip down the Clinch River on a hot summer day will surely be a refreshing activity, and dinner at one of the award-winning restaurants or the Sugar Hill Brewery will be the perfect end to a perfect day! Exploring Mountain Rose Vineyard, located in the middle of the most perfect mountain views, is a great side trip for this road trip.

LET YOUR ADVENTUROUS SIDE OUT Breaks Interstate Park boasts one of the deepest canyons in the nation, and is one of two Interstate Parks in the U.S. While here, you can do an elk viewing tour of Virginia's elk herd. The park also offers ziplining and multiple trails. Nearby, you can hike the Birch Knob Trail, from whose observation platform (a restored fire tower) you can view up to six states. On your second day, take a ride over to Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure where you can rent a side by side and enjoy the outdoors off-roading on the Coal Canyon ATV trail. Another day adventure can take you to Burke's Garden—another natural wonder that will take you back in time. Enjoy Amish meals at one of the two Amish General Stores. Sit on the porches and enjoy the peace and tranquility, or at Mattie's Place you can rent a bicycle to bike the Garden Loop. A day hike on the Appalachian Trail is possible here, at the end of West End Road. On the final day of your road trip, enjoy a hike to the Channels—yet another natural HEART OF wonder in Southwest Virginia. The evening can be APPALACHIA spent at Vincent's Vineyard or Stone Mountain Distillery. Both are sure to round off your trip with a pleasurable experience!

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

LEXINGTON, BUENA VISTA & ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY

VIRGINIA

a LYNCHBURG VIRGINIA

The foothills of Virginia’s southern Shenandoah Valley deliver more than just a gorgeous view.

These vibrant, charming communities have also become known as the perfect outdoor playground. An official Appalachian Trail community greets you at Buena Vista, and the hills, rivers, and valleys that envelop Lexington’s brick-lined sidewalks provide plenty of outdoor adventure, as well as ample refueling locations when you’re done. Join us in Lexington, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County for some good southern adventure.

Enjoy a day's ride with beautiful Buena Vista views or take a hike through the Devil's Marble yard.

Nestled in view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and alongside the James River, Lynchburgers love to be outdoors enjoying the natural surroundings. With dozens of parks and 40 miles of urban and wooded trails, thousands come out daily to walk, jog, or bike in the fresh air. And they love to greet visitors along the way and tell them of their favorite places to eat, hear music, and shop. Visit lynchburgvirginia.org to see why Lynchburg is your hub for adventure!

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY

Biking enthusiasts will have no shortage of adventures here. Beautiful mountain scenery is the big draw, but low-traffic roads and bikefriendly citizens spin Rockbridge County into the cycling big leagues. Quaint downtowns, bustling with farm-to-table bistros and locally owned shops, break up the longest rides.

And for the hikers...well, we hear there’s never enough time to experience it all! From boulder hopping on top of a mountain, to neck-craning under the Natural Bridge, a 215' limestone wonder, you'll want to make sure you have plenty of time to make your way around Rockbridge County trails.

Train cars once crossed from Downtown to Percival’s Island Natural Area for servicing; now visitors may see herons, and native plants and animals as they walk under the lush canopy. Rent a bike from Bikes Unlimited or let TaleTellers Fly Shop will get you reeling.

Clemmons Lake is the big attraction at Ivy Creek Park, perfect for canoeing, kayaking or fishing. For hiking or biking, take to their scenic multi-use trails. Rent a kayak or canoe from James River Adventures and let your worries wash away. You can even experience a ride on their replica batteau, the long-haul truck of the early 19th-century.

Buena Vista & Rockbridge County, Virginia

Lynchburg has 40 miles of urban and forest trails to walk, bike, and enjoy.

Explore the wonders of Natural Bridge State Park.

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Smallmouth Bass are the dominant game species here, but other species are plentiful, such as catfish, muskellunge and sunfish.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

ST. MARYS COUNTY

MARYLAND

ALLEGANY

MARYLAND From history and culture to outdoor activities ranging from hiking, biking, or water related activities. St. Mary’s County is the place for you. Come enjoy the breathtaking views and the many activities and events that keep us busy year-round. Enjoy the local opportunities that the county provides from shops, food, wineries, and distilleries that provide an enjoyable experience for everyone. Make St. Mary’s County your next destination and make it an unforgettable experience.

With over 500 miles of shoreline on the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers, and Chesapeake Bay, plus countless other rivers, streams, tidal marshes, and inlets, St. Mary's County is a water wonderland.

Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland, is an authentic destination filled with small town charm yet big time Cumberland, adventure. The gateway to the Allegheny Maryland, is a Mountains, 25 percent of its land is publicly Maryland Arts owned, making outdoor recreation abundant. The and Entertainment district featuring region also features two arts and entertainment a historic downtown communities, and the county is home to DelFest, with shops, dining, one of the nation’s largest bluegrass festivals. and galleries.

History and heritage speak loudly as you walk the streets, taking in the architecture and three centuries of American history sites. The mountains are calling!

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY

Discovering the great outdoors of St. Mary's County has never been easier. Each of the five state parks has its own defining character, but all have one thing in common—water! The state parks, full of mountain bike trails, hiking, and fishing, have roots in the history of the United States. Enjoy the beaches dotted around the county, and journey to Point Lookout State Park and Beach for the ultimate outdoor mecca. Kayak, paddle board, and boat around the rivers, bays, and creeks—and dock at one of the many waterside restaurants for a tasty boost of energy!

A favorite pastime is to gather the group to fish, canoe, kayak, or float the Potomac River, which bends and winds, separating Maryland from West Virginia. If water is what you are after, then be sure to also experience the 243-acre Lake Habeeb at Rocky Gap State Park. It is known for water sports, swimming areas, and dog-friendly beaches.

Plus, the region features the terminus of the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath, a car-free 330+-mile, internationally-known bicycle trail destination. When the day of adventure is over, immerse yourself in the community with walkable shops, outdoor dining, and wineries!

We cover a lot of interests and ground—cement, dirt and the green stuff. Check out our skate park, our BMX track, and our disc golf course.

Bikers stop along the Great Allegheny Passage’s Big Savage overlook, to take in Allegany County’s scenic views.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

CALVERT COUNTY MARYLAND

Come live the Chesapeake Bay lifestyle. Experience Calvert County’s beaches and water sports, enjoy our breweries and wineries, explore our museums and galleries and savor our selection of waterfront restaurants.

For decades, families have flocked to Calvert County, Maryland, to escape the city heat in Baltimore and D.C. and experience the Chesapeake Bay lifestyle, complete with bay breezes and crab feasts. With over 100 miles of shoreline along the Patuxent River and the bay, water sports like kayaking, paddle boarding, crabbing and charter boat fishing for that big catch are a must.

Afternoons offer visits to local wineries and breweries followed by dinner at sunset overlooking the water.

EAT When in Rome! Calvert County is right on the Chesapeake Bay so make time to partake in a traditional crab feast or seafood platter. To the north of the county lies the twin beach towns of North Beach and Chesapeake Beach with several superb restaurant options. To the south is Solomons, a tiny waterside town with a big waterfront restaurant selection.

STAY All of the accommodations in Calvert County are top notch. Plan a quick stay in an affordable hotel, stay for a few days in a tent, camper or vacation home, treat yourself to a luxurious stay in a bed and breakfast or plan something unique and book a stay at the base of the Cove Point Lighthouse in the keeper’s quarters.

PLAY With all the water access in Calvert County, you know there have to be beaches! They have some of the nicest beaches on the bay and you don’t have to drive all the way across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to access them. Search for shark teeth and shells at any of the beaches dotted along the bay, peruse local museums and galleries, and stop for an ice cream cone to finish off your perfect day away! Maryland. Be Open For It.

Calvert Cliffs State Park highlights the hundreds of miles of shoreline along the Patuxent River and bay.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER VALLEY PENNSYLVANIA

Your adventure begins in the Susquehanna River Valley!

The River is ideal for boating, fishing, camping and wildlife watching.

In the beautiful Susquehanna River Valley, located in central Pennsylvania, the river connects you to one delight after another. From hiking, mountain biking, camping, kayaking, or any other outdoor adventure you can think of, to spending a day visiting wildlife sanctuaries and amusement parks with the family, you can find it all in the Susquehanna River Valley. Where will you find your fun in the Susquehanna River Valley?

Enjoy the scenery and an awardwinning glass of wine at Shade Mountain Winery, which overlooks the rolling hills of the valley.

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GRAB A BITE Take a trip back in time and experience dining the way it used to be—The Fence Drive-In was established in the 1950s and still operates as a Car Hop Restaurant from midApril until early October. Skeeter’s Pit BBQ will have your mouth watering from Signature Ribs to their Famous PulledPork Barbeque, Chicken, Brisket, cold beer, and more.

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY Hop on your bike and hit the trails! Central Pennsylvania’s terrain offers bicycling for all riders from novice to expert.

Fish on! Penns Creek, a tributary to the Susquehanna River was voted one of ”America’s Top 100 Trout Steams” and continues to be publicized due to its great fishing. Take on the terrain at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, a 7,500 acre family oriented off-highway vehicle recreation park. Bic's Watersports and Outdoor Adventures will help you enjoy a recreational kayak trip on the scenic Susquehanna River, providing everything you need for a memorable adventure.

REST UP Make sure to check out Fantasy Island Campground.

It’s beautiful, friendly, and clean with 100 full hook-up sites located on the Susquehanna River near Sunbury, Pennsylvania. For a family-friendly campground, try Williamsport South/Nittany Mountain KOA or Splash Magic Campground—tucked into the rolling hills of the beautiful Susquehanna River Valley. If you are in an RV, River Edge RV Camp & Marina is a good fit, located on the clean, clear west branch of the Susquehanna River. Last but not least, there is Riverside Campground—located on the beautiful Susquehanna River, 9 miles south of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

MARTINSBURG WEST VIRGINIA

Quench your thirst at Boyd’s Steakhouse.

Experience the amazing culture and charm of downtown Martinsburg.

Live like a local at any of Berkeley County’s amazing festivals, fairs and events. The wine and laughter doesn’t stop at Brix 27.

Small town charm meets big adventure in Berkeley County, West Virginia, with a vibrant downtown culture, endless miles of hiking trails, unforgettable eats, engaging history and local gems that can only be described through experiencing them. Located only 90 minutes from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and along Interstate 81, Berkeley County is perfectly situated to offer mountainous beauty and a day trip into the city. So, come ready to make some memories because Berkeley County makes the everyday extraordinary.

CLEAN YOUR PLATE! They say you eat with your eyes before your stomach, but all your senses will be full to bursting after tasting our culinary delights. Get the napkins ready for a greasy burger from local favorite Blue White Grill. Make the evening memorable with a reservation at wine bar and restaurant Brix 27 for an evening of food and music.

Polish off a slice—or two—of homemade cheesecake from Everything Cheesecake.

HISTORY AND HIKES With extraordinary outdoor adventures waiting, there’s only one thing to do—get lost! Lose yourself in the biking and hiking trails or go primitive at the rough camping sites in the 23,000-acre Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area. Civil War spies and hidden tunnels and trains, oh my! Their history is a proud part of their present, and you can be part of the story. Learn how a little girl grew up to become a Southern spy, tour the home of Martinsburg’s founder, and walk the rails to Martinsburg’s iconic Roundhouse train station.

SLEEP IN Luxury is in every detail at our area hotels, with great chains like Hilton, Holiday Inn, Fairfield Inn and more. Like a rugged setting? Tuck in at their RV campgrounds and let nature lull you to sleep.

Sleepy Creek Lake offers an unforgettable view and amazing recreational activities.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

GRANT COUNTY

BOWLING GREEN

WEST VIRGINIA

Grant County, West Virginia, lies in the midst of the picturesque Potomac Highlands. This iconic Gateway community to the Monongahela National Forest offers lush woodlands, providing a cool summer retreat and exquisite autumnal shows.

Tributaries of the Potomac River skirt by striking natural formations, offering phenomenal East Coast fishing and paddling adventures. Rich in history, the area is known for its neighborly residents and magnificent scenery which embody the idea of "home sweet home."

KENTUCKY

Enjoy the relentless views on North Fork Mountain.

About an hour’s drive north from Nashville, TN and south from Mammoth Cave National Park along I-65 Zip across is a mid-sized city known for making Corvettes cave valleys and celebrating all things motorsports. But this and openings hub of southern Kentucky’s cave country is also or rappel a growing destination for outdoor adventure down limestone faces. enthusiasts. Many adrenaline-seeking visitors put the pedal to the medal, but there are ample opportunities for exploration beyond the windshield in Kentucky’s third-largest city.

Tour the world’s longest known cave system, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY

• Go High with soaring adventures in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Hike and mountain bike on the premier North Fork Mountain Trail. The relentless views are “Almost Heaven.”

• Go Deep to explore Smoke Hole Canyon.

Paddle the heart of the canyon on the South Branch River. Trout and bass fishing, camping, birding, hiking, and spelunking provide endless recreational opportunities.

• Go Wild on the windswept moors of Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. The unique upland bogs and sweeping vistas are breathtaking.

Hiking, backpacking, and scenic drives to the world-famous overlook at Bear Rocks brings out the wild in all ages.

Take a leisurely underground boat tour, soar over scenic blue holes and navigate trails, wetlands and an outdoor classroom at Lost River Cave & Zipline. Check Mammoth Cave off your or your kids’ bucket list before paddling the Green River through the National Park, then recharge while boating, hiking or rappelling at Shanty Hollow Lake. Cyclists take in the area’s lush countryside along U.S. Bike Route 23 or Big Hollow Trail while parents can let the kids’ squeals resonate in the wide-open spaces surrounding familyowned farms. Shift into overdrive with an amusement and water park, indoor climbing, gokarting, craft spirits, minor league baseball, and tons of restaurants and shops. Gear up with a free guide!

Enjoy the scenery that lies in the midst of the picturesque Dolly Sods.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

TOWNSEND

TENNESSEE

Spend a day exploring the amazing trails and waterfalls at Cades Cove. Then kick off your shoes and experience the relaxation at Dancing Bear Lodge!

Townsend, Tennessee —the Peaceful Side of the Smoky Mountains —offers adventure for families, adrenaline junkies and outdoor enthusiasts who want to connect with nature. There are plenty of opportunities to explore mountain streams, trails and caverns while enjoying the comforts and convenience of home. From festivals in the spring, floating on the rivers in the summer, bluegrass concerts in the fall, to unique shops and lodging in the winter, you’ll find things to do in every season… you’re going to need a longer stay!

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE Rent a tube or kayak from River Rat and the Little River will take you on a ride the natural way. Enjoy the scenic beauty and the fun of a day on the river.

Explore over 900 miles of hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is a hike for every skill level and age. You can even boast that you hiked the Appalachian Trail—there are 71 miles of the trail in the park! Make sure to visit Tuckaleechee Caverns—it is the greatest site under the Smokies.

Biking is also a must-do while on the Peaceful Side… either on the great greenway trails or road cycling down the scenic rural roads, Townsend has it all. No bike? No problem. Rent a bike from Smoky Mountain Outdoor Center. Cades Cove, located in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is a beautiful, sheltered valley with a mixture of forest, meadow and an outdoor museum of pioneer life in the 1800s. You can ride the loop in your car, on your bike or hop on a guided tour provided by the great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. This is also a great way to see lots of wildlife.

ACCOMMODATIONS Enjoy a relaxing family retreat just minutes from Cades Cove at Dancing Bear Lodge. It offers charming and rustic accommodations and an award-winning restaurant.

Tubing down the river in the Smoky Mountains is fun for all family members and one of the best ways to beat the summer heat.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

GATLINBURG TENNESSEE

With a bountiful salad bar and hand-cut steaks grilled over real Tennessee hickory charcoal, the Peddler Steakhouse has something everyone can enjoy. It is the perfect place to refuel after a full day of fun!

Gatlinburg is the perfect mountaintop getaway, complete with breathtaking views of the Smokies and endless fun. Surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is steps away from outdoor adventure. But don’t miss out on all the entertainment in and around town. There is never a dull moment with attractions like charming Anakeesta, nationally-acclaimed Ripley’s Aquarium, and the brand new SkyBridge—the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. Plan your next adventure at Gatlinburg.com.

The Appy Lodge is a cozy, family-owned hotel that showcases the great outdoors on each

EAT Gatlinburg is full of locally-owned restaurants serving everything from native trout to barbecue to pancakes.

Start your day with a hearty Southern-style breakfast at Crockett’s Breakfast Camp, try the American classics at The Park Grill or the Holy Bologna Sandwich at Delauder’s Barbecue for lunch, and top it all off with a naturallyaged hand-cut steak grilled over real Tennessee hickory charcoal from The Peddler Steakhouse.

STAY Gatlinburg offers scenic lodging whether you stay in town or in the mountains. There are plenty of cabins for a secluded mountain stay, and hotels are conveniently located just steps away from the Gatlinburg Parkway.

The new Appy Lodge is the perfect place to recharge after a day in the mountains—each floor is decorated with a National Park-inspired theme, and each room nods to a park trail.

PLAY Gatlinburg continues to open new attractions for all visitors!

Be sure to walk the 680 foot long SkyBridge, which features a see-through section for picturesque views from 140 feet in the air. For a more grounded adventure, Ober Gatlinburg now offers snowless tubing during the summer. And what would a trip to Gatlinburg be without high outdoor mountain adventures? Try whitewater rafting, fish for trout with Smoky, Mountain Angler, or let Smoky Mountain Guides lead you along one of the countless nearby hiking trails.

Appalachian Trail-themed floor.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

ANAKEESTA

TENNESSEE

Choose between an enclosed cabin with seating for six or an open air chair ride for four.

Admission includes unlimited rides on the Chondola for the whole family.

Discover the magic in the mountains at Anakeesta!

Nestled in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg is Tennessee’s award-winning outdoor theme park where families of all ages can discover nature, thrilling rides and entertainment. The journey begins with a ride on a scenic Chondola. Soar above the city and enjoy the spectacular views from above. Upon reaching the summit of Anakeesta, guests enter a whimsical village where everyone will find time to play, relax and dine. Guests can come and go all day with unlimited Chondola rides.

PLAY Immerse yourself in nature on the scenic treetop canopy walk, and discover the longest series of suspended bridges in Gatlinburg. Keep a sharp eye— you may spot a bear on the forest floor below. Zip side by side with friends on the Dueling Zipline Adventure course then race on the Rail Runner mountain coaster, the first single rail coaster in the United States! Not just for the brave of heart, this family-friendly ride allows guests to control their own speed. Kids of all ages will enjoy climbing through the BearVenture obstacle course and the Treehouse Village playground or striking it rich at the Anakeesta gem mine!

RELAX Meander through a botanical wonderland bursting with colorful flowers and a cascading stream at Vista Gardens.

Pose for a family photo with panoramic mountain views as your backdrop. Play in a ‘twigloo’ and be sure to say hello to Willow, the protector of the forest. Everyone will find their favorite place to relax at Anakeesta.

DINE & SHOPPING Enjoy treehouse-themed shops, then satisfy your hunger at Cliff Top Grill & Bar or the Anakeesta Smokehouse. Save room for a scoop of hand-dipped ice cream or milk shakes and sundaes. Live music, free arts and crafts, and artisan demonstrations will be part of the fun all summer long at Anakeesta.

The newly expanded Vista Gardens feature the BearVenture play area, additional shaded seating to enjoy the views, and musical instruments that the entire family will enjoy.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY love the ride

HOLIDAY INN TANGLEWOOD Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Holiday Inn Tanglewood – Roanoke has something for everyone! Located less than three miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, they are the closest full service hotel featuring the famous Elephant Walk Restaurant & Lounge, outdoor pool and more! Let them help you plan your adventure to the Star City today! Call 540.774.4400 for reservations.

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WYTHEVILLE

The guest rooms offer a sophisticated blend of quality and comfort. Each of the 45 rooms has been individually designed with rich color schemes, classic furniture and beautiful fabrics. In addition, the cottages are a blend of historic and new, each with their own character. The room categories include Historic cozy, Large Skyline Suites, Roosevelt and Blue Ridge junior suites. Each of the cottages have their own special features, including decks, kitchenettes, and real fireplaces. Two of the cottages even have their own private hottub. In addition the Manor House, the original owner's and builder's home is located on the adjacent property, offering the perfect wedding venue.

Located in the Shenandoah Valley, just a stone's throw to the world famous Luray Caverns, Skyline Drive located in the Shenandoah National Park, and the Shenandoah River.

Norton, gateway to High Knob Recreation Area and home to Flag Rock Recreation Area, offers endless outdoor adventures. Plan your next adventure in Norton and join us for these upcoming events: • High Knob Outdoor Fest: August 17 • Benge’s Revenge Bike Race: September 7 • Woodbooger GeoTrail: September 7 • High Knob Hellbender 10K: October 5 • Woodbooger Fest: October 5 • Cloudsplitter 100: October 12-13

You can search the world over and not find another Wytheville, and it's positioned at the center of endless opportunities for authentic experiences and epic adventures. Wytheville boasts dozens of attractions, including museums, a dinner theatre, wineries, breweries, an herb farm and butterfly house, an animal safari park, a dirt track, the birthplace of a First Lady and a 100-foot tower where you can see five states.

Pedal or paddle at New River Trail State Park or test your skills at the new terrain bike park at Crystal Springs Recreation Area. A charmingly revitalized downtown offers unique shopping, dining, lodging and entertainment. Uncover the small-town fun in Wytheville…

There’s Only One!

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Did You Know, if you live in VA or NC you can purchase Blue Ridge Parkway vanity license plates that help support the parkway.

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MOUNT MITCHELL GOLF CLUB Mount Mitchell Golf Club offers overnight accomodations with condos and houses. Popular Stay and Play packages are available. Trophy trout fishing in the South Toe River and hiking 80 miles of trails in the surrounding Pisgah National Forest complete an active outdoor scene. They are two miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway AT MP 344 with a full service clubhouse. Call 828.675.4923 for reservations.

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HENDERSONVILLE

MAST GENERAL STORE “All general stores are satisfying to visit, but one of them, the Mast Store, is a destination.” -Charles Kuralt With something for everyone, ages 2 to 102, the Mast Store is packed with traditional fashions, comfortable footwear, trail and travel gear, country gourmet foods, local finds, toys powered by imagination, and hundreds of old-fashioned favorite candies.

Travel the winding road to Valle Crucis, NC’s first rural historic district, to visit the Original Mast Store and Annex or drop by downtown locations in Boone, Asheville, Hendersonville, or Waynesville for an experience to remember. You’ll discover a curious desire to visit locations in Winston-Salem, NC, Columbia and Greenville, SC, and Knoxville, TN, too.

Coming to Roanoke, VA in 2020.

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CUMBERLAND FALLS B&B Cumberland Falls Bed & Breakfast is located just one mile from downtown Asheville and three miles from the Biltmore estate. Surrounded by gardens and koi ponds, Cumberland Falls is a tranquil retreat. King and Queen rooms with jacuzzi bathtubs and shower, Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, luxurious robes, complimentary snacks, beverages and three course breakfast. Come Relax and Enjoy.

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Visitors to Hendersonville encounter an ideal spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains—not too big and not too small. Hendersonville offers flatwater paddling, whitewater rafting, gorgeous waterfalls, scenic hikes and the East Coast headquarters of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Outdoor adventure abounds at DuPont State Recreational Forest with more than 10,000 acres of forest, trails and waterfalls. And 15 minutes from downtown is Jump Off Rock, with panoramic views of four states. Paddling enthusiasts can choose from Lazy Otter Outfitters on the slow-flowing French Broad River or whitewater thrills with Green River Adventures. The Gorge zipline offers one of the steepest canopy tours in the nation. Great restaurants are available, along with wineries, breweries and cideries on the Cheers! Trail.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2019

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY love the ride

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FRANKLIN, NC

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With beautiful Watauga Lake tucked into the mountains, the Watauga and Doe rivers offering some of the Southeast’s best trout fishing, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails including the famed Roan Mountain section of the Appalachian Trail. The opportunities for outdoor adventure are endless.

Come see what makes Carter County Tennessee’s Mountain Playground.

Photo by Green River Adventures

Franklin, NC is your gateway to adventure in the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains.

With hundreds of miles of trails, rivers, majestic waterfalls, scenic drives, and a vibrant downtown scene, you’ll run out of time before you’ll run out of things to do. Get to know your mountain side in Franklin, NC!

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YOUR NC MOUNTAIN PLAYLIST

NANTAHALA, NC Whether you are looking for a quiet getaway or an active vacation, you'll find numerous comfortable cabins, lodges and vacation homes dotting the lake shoreline and up the mountainsides.

Once you've discovered this beautiful and peaceful corner of the Smokies, we know you'll be back—again and again. Refreshingly unsophisticated Nantahala— the real Smoky Mountains!

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The scenic mountains vistas of the First Peak of the Blue Ridge create nature’s playlist—but the intensity of your experience is up to you. Turn up the volume!

The Gorge Canopy Zip Line, the country’s steepest, fastest zip line, will have your adrenaline rushing for hours. Green River Adventures guides you through cool whitewater adventures, then local venues fill the evening with music. Or keep things peaceful as you hike to Pearson’s Falls and Glen, taste local wine at our five wineries, and share some porch time with the crickets at one of our cozy mountain cabins or inns.

Our small North Carolina towns of Historic Saluda, Tryon, Columbus and the surrounding areas welcome you! We’ll help you make a plan.

Call 800-440-7848.

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RUTHERFORD COUNTY Stop and feel this moment. The moment you laugh so hard you feel weightless for a second. The moment you reach the apex of your hike and take in the view. These are the moments that matter most when we look back. Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, and The Blue Ridge Foothills invite you to come create your moments that matter.

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AFFORDABLE ADVENTURE YOU DON'T NEED A TON OF MONEY OR EXPERTISE TO EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS— ESPECIALLY IN CHATTANOOGA

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

G

rowing up, Bailey O’Sullivan’s family moved about every two years for her mom’s job. They ended up in Chattanooga, Tennessee for a few years when she was in middle school.

“My dad’s goal every time we moved was to get us into activities that were unique to that place,” O’Sullivan said. “When we moved to Chattanooga, he saw an ad in the newspaper for a pool roll session for kayaks. We didn’t really know what he was talking about, but we’ve always loved water.”

The O’Sullivan sisters started attending weekly sessions with the Whitewater Kids Club, starting at the pool until moving up to the whitewater rivers easily accessible from Chattanooga.

“Kayaking can be cost prohibitive when you first get started because it’s a financial commitment to buy all the equipment,” O’Sullivan said. “It was great to do it through this program because they provided all of the equipment. So, we didn’t have to buy a bunch of stuff for a sport we weren’t sure we would like."

That program was an early model of what would eventually become Outdoor Chattanooga, a division of the city’s Department of Economic

and Community Development. The city officially established the program in 2004 as part of an initiative from then Mayor Bob Corker to highlight the city’s natural resources.

Sunshine Loveless, Outdoor Chattanooga’s customer relations specialist, said the program is designed to get residents and tourists outside, taking advantage of the many outdoor recreation opportunities in the area.

Unlike most cities, Chattanooga does not have a parks and recreation department. Instead of offering softball, soccer, and basketball leagues, Outdoor Chattanooga provides introduction to activities like mountain biking, whitewater kayaking, and hiking.

“Everything is that outdoor play, connection with nature,” Loveless said. “There’s not really any other city organization that offers the kind of programming that we do. We’ve had several cities call us and ask how they can adopt our model and incorporate it into their own setting because they recognize the economic impact that it has.”

Most of the programs, including archery, adaptive cycling, bike commuting 101, and the hiking series, are free. The organization provides all

of the equipment, instruction, and transportation.

The more intensive programs, such as whitewater kayaking, come at a much lower cost compared to private resources available.

“I think by offering those low-cost, no-cost programs, we are able to reach that demographic that wouldn’t normally have access to getting outside and playing,” Loveless said. “We are not limited to just those who can afford it.”

For many participants, like O’Sullivan, they come away with a passion or appreciation for the outdoors.

Although her family eventually moved away from Chattanooga, O’Sullivan kept kayaking. In college, she worked at the Nantahala Outdoors Center during the summers before coming on as a full-time kayak and wilderness medicine instructor.

“Kayaking has changed my life 100 percent,” she said.

When she moved back to Chattanooga for nursing school, O’Sullivan worked as a summer kayak instructor for Outdoor Chattanooga. Although the program has evolved from her time to include more activities and opened up to all ages, the J U LY 2 0 1 9 | B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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mission is still the same.

“It would be cool if every city had that as a resource,” Loveless said. “I’m curious about mountain biking but I don’t want to go drop $800 on a bicycle just to not like it. So, we offer a two-hour course for 10 bucks where we give you a mountain bike and teach you the basic skills. Usually by the end of that two-hour session, you have decided whether you are going to like this or you’re glad you didn’t spend more than $10 to learn that.”

These programs are open to everyone, from novice adventure seekers to more experienced users looking for a structured outing.

“Some of my favorites are the first timers,” Loveless said. “We took a 70-year-old woman on a kayaking trip down the river at sunset. It was super slow going because she had never been in a kayak before, but she was so grateful for the experience.”

Outdoor Chattanooga’s influence extends beyond the residents of the city.

Alden Lee went whitewater rafting for his fifteenth birthday and fell in love with the experience. He took a whitewater kayaking lesson for a more personal experience the following year but knew it would be difficult to continue when lessons cost $150 for a half-day session.

“It just was not sustainable,” Lee said. “We looked all around Atlanta for different ways I could still pursue this. I was at a point in my life where I was really getting into it.”

While doing research online, the Lees came across Outdoor Chattanooga’s program. A year-long membership there cost less than $100 for access to

instruction and equipment. Although it was a twohour drive, the Lees made it work on the weekends for a much more affordable price.

“You were surrounded by this overwhelming feeling of being in a place where people are dedicated and truly want to share that passion with you,” Lee said. “It’s a crazy thing to be strapped into a boat and then going underneath the water. You feel completely comfortable with them because you know that they got your back. They make that clear.”

By the end of that first year, instructors were inviting Lee on personal trips so he could get more experience on rivers the program didn’t cover.

The past two summers, he worked for Outdoor

Chattanooga as a kayak instructor and staff member.

“I could easily put myself in the shoes of whoever was that participant,” Lee said. “To have that lens that you can put on as an instructor is really awesome, knowing the fear that happens going down your first rapid and the different things that made me stick with it. It felt like passing the torch in a way.”

Lee, who is heading into his junior year at Warren Wilson College, is organizing a whitewater kayaking club to teach others about the sport and eventually compete against other colleges.

“I’m trying to give back that feeling and style of instruction Outdoor Chattanooga gave me,” he said.

Check out these other low-cost, no-cost programs and stores around the region.

Memphis Rox (Tenn.)

The organizers behind this climbing gym are dedicated to welcoming people of all ages, experience levels, and backgrounds to climb and build community together, regardless of ability to pay.

Active Southern West Virginia (W. Va.) Prioritize your health and wellbeing with Active Southern West Virginia, an organization dedicated to improving the community and offering free physical activities.

Adventure Kids WNC (N.C.) Since 2010, Adventure Kids has provided mountain bike outings and environmental education to thousands of kids in Western North Carolina, free of charge for the students.

Gear Goat Xchg (N.C.) It’s all about local community at Gear Goat Xchg in Charlotte, N.C. This outdoor gear consignment shop wants to help you find a new, loving home for your used gear.

Boone Gap Outfitters (Ky.) In addition to offering discounted, used gear, the folks at Boone Gap Outfitters also offer bike repairs and rentals, organize group cleanups, and promote the local outdoor community.

High Tor Gear Exchange (Va.) Show Mother Nature some love and buy your gear used from High Tor Gear Exchange in Charlottesville. Save money while helping save the environment.

This #UniquelyAlleghany moment courtesy of the Alleghany Highlands Blueway.

#OutdoorAdventure #AlleghanyOutdoors

Plan your Uniquely Alleghany getaway at VisitAlleghanyHighlands.com 540-962-2178 • 888-430-5786 • #UniquelyAlleghany 58

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S | J U LY 2 0 1 9

NELSON COUNTY’S

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The Half Gallon Ice Cream Challenge For A.T. thru-hikers reaching the halfway point, the wooden spoon is a coveted prize.

BY GREG BOWERS

JALEN DESANTIS CHOSE "SHAGGY" AS HIS TRAIL NAME BECAUSE HIS

hair is long enough that he can pull it back in a loose bun and shaggy enough that a mouse got tangled in it during a night in one of the trail’s shelters.

“There could be one in there now,” he jokes.

He’s 19 years old and he’s from Oregon. He and his twin sister, Spice (Ella DeSantis), are spending their “gap” year between high school and college hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.

The Pine Grove Furnace General Store, the halfway point on the 2,190-mile trail, is a place to find some food and maybe a spot in the hostel next door – which offers a place to sleep, a shower, and breakfast the next morning.

It's also the home of the Half-Gallon challenge.

The rules? What do you need to know? You eat a half gallon of ice cream.

Since 1980, each summer when the hikers arrive, some have decided to eat a half gallon of ice cream to celebrate making it halfway on the trail. Now it’s a bit more complicated than that. In these days of product downsizing, what once was a half-gallon ice cream carton has now shrunk to 1.5 quarts. So mathematically speaking, you’ve got to eat the larger container, and then another pint, to meet the halfgallon challenge.

Shaggy chose Green Mint Chip, and he was regretting it.

“It’s sooo bad,” he says.

His sister laughs. “The first bite?”

“The first bites were good,” he says. “The rest, not so much.”

Phantom (real name: Gregory Arial) has hiked with Shaggy and Spice for the last few days and is encouraging Shaggy through his Half-Gallon Challenge.

“There’s no rush today,” he tells Shaggy, who is working toward the bottom of his 1.5-quart carton.

“You get ‘cred’ for that. The way I figure it, he completed it. That’s the 'new' half gallon.”

It’s a friendly thought, but it’s not true. On the wall inside the store is a homemade plaque honoring “Turtleman” who’s the current Barry Bonds of the Half-Gallon Challenge. He’s got the record, but there are pesky questions. In 2018, the plaque says, he ate his half gallon in 5 minutes and 48 seconds, a number that leaves this year’s hikers shaking their heads.

“He must have let it melt, then drank it,” one hiker 60

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(LEFT) THE ICE CREAM FREEZER IN THE PINE GROVE FURNACE G E N E R A L S T O R E . ( A B O V E ) T H E A P PA L A C H I A N T R A I L M U S E U M , T H E O N L Y M U S E U M D E D I C AT E T O T H E T R A I L , I S J U S T A C R O S S T H E S T R E E T.

says.

Michelle Michael, who runs the store, insists that Turtleman did it straight-up. And for what it’s worth, she also predicts that the record will fall this year.

She gives a prize to the hikers who complete the Half-Gallon challenge. It’s a little wooden spoon— the kind that used to come attached to those little personal cups of ice cream that you ate when you were a kid.

“Member of Half Gal. Club” is stamped on each one.

Shaggy keeps eating.

Earl Shaffer, who lived in Pennsylvania not far from Pine Grove Furnace, was the first person to “thru-hike” the trail. It took him 124 days. A display of Shaffer’s hiking equipment, typewriter, guitar and “signature” Pith helmet is featured in the Appalachian Trail Museum, which is in a former grist mill just

across the street from the General Store. It opened in 2010.

Thousands of hikers have followed Shaffer’s trail.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy estimates that over three million hike at least a portion of the trail each year. Of the people who attempt thru-hikes each year, only about one in four makes it the entire way.

“It’s a six-month athletic event,” said Lear (Scott Purdy), waiting for his food in front of the ice machine on the store’s porch. Lear, 63, started the trail late, in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, because of a commitment to a Chicago-area stage production of Shakespeare’s King Lear.

After a banking career, he’d returned to acting – something he’d loved as a younger man. Now he was hiking.

“I wasn’t prepared for it,” he said. “I tried to prepare for it, but I’ve learned that I haven’t quite done what I needed to do.”

Lear’s plan was to flip flop, hike to Maine then come back to Harper’s Ferry and head south to finish in Georgia.

Already, his shoes had let him down. He detoured into a town along the way and bought a new pair.

So far, he says, the new shoes feel better than his

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starter pair did. But he admits that, just couple weeks in, it’s really too early to tell.

“You get up and every day, you hike 16 miles.

Then you do it again tomorrow. Basically, it’s an athletic event every day.”

Everybody has their reason for attempting the trail, but the hikers, for the most part, fall into two vague groups. There are young people who are spending months on the trail before their lives begin to get noisy. And there are older people who could never shake the trail out of their heads and now, when their lives aren’t so noisy anymore, they’re hiking.

A woman at the next table awkwardly tries to start a conversation.

“That was something the other week, when that guy attacked that woman and killed that other guy,” she said.

“Yeah,” Lear said, “in Virginia.” There wasn’t much else you could say.

The woman was talking about a man and a woman who were attacked on the trail in Virginia.

The woman escaped by playing dead. The man was killed. The alleged killer was arrested, and news of the homicide zipped up and down the trail through the hikers’ remarkably close-knit community.

Violence on the trail is rare. The ATC says there have been nine hikers killed over the last 45 years.

It’s estimated that three to four million hikers use the trail annually.

For this group at Pine Grove Furnace, this recent violence happened behind them on the trail. Still, as you might expect, it hangs in their minds.

Michelle Michael, the store’s manager, has been hurrying back and forth all afternoon, making hamburgers and calling out names over the store’s patio. The hiker burger is a popular choice with a pile of fries the size of a campfire.

Michael Kosnar says his trail name is Dinga Dinga Dooo (“Use as many oh’s as you want to,” he said.)

When his burger and fries arrived, he had a moment. He stared down at the food, then closed his eyes, lingering with the anticipation of the first bite.

“I haven’t had a burger in a long time,” Dinga Dinga Dooo said. “So this is going to be a treat.”

Inside an old wooden lectern is an impromptu “take-something, leave-something” food store.

Couscous. Vienna sausages in a can. A plastic bag filled with prunes.

There’s a place where hikers can recharge their cell phones. There’s also a notebook with pages from half-gallon challenge winners. Some of the pages are smeared with ice cream.

“Too cold for ice cream. The burger was awesome,” wrote Tagalong.

"Two hours, 36 minutes. Way too much ice cream.

Never again,” wrote Ninja Snail, who also drew a small cartoon of a snail.

“Half gallon of ice cream in the belly, the world ahead,” said Sundown.

Michael, who’s been running the Pine Grove Furnace General Store for years, has seen it before.

“This place is called a general store, but it really is a hikers’ store,” she said. “In my opinion, it’s a celebratory place. They’re like a family to me.

“They’re the best customers I have.”

Over at his table Shaggy is finishing his ice 62

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cream. Spice, Phantom, and a couple of others break out in respectful “golf tournament” applause in honor of his halfgallon accomplishment.

At Dinga Dinga Dooo’s table, he’s eating his hamburger with both hands.

“I worked my job, I saved money and had the time,” he said. “I want to see the White Mountains in New Hampshire, I want to see the wilderness in Maine.”

Dinga Dinga Dooo thought for a second. “I want to see it all.”

Half-Gallon Challenge: What You Need to Know How did it start?

Since 1980, the Half-Gallon Challenge has become a tradition at the Pine Grove Furnace General Store, located at the approximate halfway point of the Appalachian Trail.

The managers of the store at the time noticed that when thru-hikers came in, they were ravenous. Having spent months on the trail eating typical trail food like ramen, Vienna sausages and Strawberry Pop Tarts, the hikers would seize the opportunity to gorge themselves on hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream. They created the half-gallon club—which morphed into the half-gallon challenge. Word of the quirky challenge quickly spread among the hikers.

And now, almost 40 years later, hikers arrive in Pine Grove Furnace with ice cream on their minds.

What are the rules?

This is a tradition, not a competition. There are no rules, per se, and eaters are on their honor for the most part. Eat the half gallon, bring your empty cartons back inside, and you’re in the club. You get a commemorative spoon and can note your feat in the ice-cream stained pages of the store’s record book.

Speed eaters, a spin-off of the original challenge, do usually draw a small crowd of “witnesses,” and a staff member monitors and usually videos.

What is the prize?

Michael, who has managed the store for four years, confesses that the old-fashioned flat wooden ice cream spoon seems like a “chintzy” award but says she got pushback when she attempted to change the prize. And it’s not about the prize anyway. Some hikers leave without even picking it up.

How many hikers participate?

About 50-60 percent of the roughly 1,000 thru-hikers participate in the challenge each year. It’s a seasonal

SHAGGY EVENTUALLY FINISHED HIS HALFGALLON OF ICE CREAM, BUT HE REGRETTED THE CHOICE OF MINT C H O C O L AT E C H I P.

thing, since most hikers try to reach Maine before fall.

She says that, as a sample, between June 1-10 this year, 72 attempted the Half-Gallon challenge at her Pine Grove store.

How many calories are we talking about?

Each carton contains several thousand calories, but the hikers—who can burn over 600 calories per hour hiking up and down mountains—don’t seem to mind.

Are there different brands? Flavor choices? Is there a favorite flavor?

The store exclusively stocks Hershey’s Ice Cream.

(The Harrisburg-based company is not affiliated with the famous Hershey Company in nearby Hershey, Pa.) There are about a 20-30 different flavors stocked in the store’s freezer, depending on how recently the delivery truck’s been there, says Michael. She says that Neopolitan is the favored flavor.

Chuck Preston, marketing and creative director of Hershey’s Ice Cream, says that the challenge has also found some traction among tourists who drop by while visiting Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

Has anyone gotten sick?

Surprisingly few. Only one hiker, Michael says, had an unexpected dairy reaction and had to visit a local hospital. •

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THE GOODS

FAVORITE GEAR

GEAR THAT ROCKS DIRTBAG CLIMBER DREW MERCER SHARES HIS FAVORITE EQUIPMENT

BY IAN DZILENSKI

From the lush green hills of western North Carolina to the high desert boulder fields of Hueco Tanks, freelance photographer Drew Mercer has fully embraced the dirtbag lifestyle.

With almost his whole life packed into his 2009 Honda Pilot, Mercer scoured the country, with friends in tow, looking for stunning scenes and epic boulders. “Living on the road has been a wild adventure,” Mercer said.

“You just have this ultimate freedom to go wherever and do whatever you want and it’s hard to beat that.”

Mercer grew up in Raleigh, N.C., but his intrigue with the outdoors and traveling didn’t really take off until he began attending school at Appalachian State University.

It was that interest in the outdoors that led Mercer to the sport of rock climbing, a sport that he considers fundamental to his motivation for living on the road.

Having spent the last eight months traveling from the East Coast, out to the Pacific and back, Mercer picked up a few tips and tricks. “One of the most important traits you can have when living on the road is the ability to adapt,” Mercer said. “It’s about being resourceful and making do with what you have so that you can fully embrace the other, positive aspects of the lifestyle.”

Here are a few of his favorite pieces of road gear.

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Mountain Summit Gear SelfInflating Sleeping Pad 1.5in One of the keys to maximizing your time on the road is getting a good night’s rest, Mercer said. A couple of layers of egg crate foam topped with a quality sleeping pad, like the Mountain Summit Gear Self-Inflating pad, will keep you ready to go for the next day’s adventure. ($70)

Petzl Tikka Headlamp and Packlite Nova Solar Inflatable Lamp There is never anything fun about losing things, especially when it’s your phone or water bottle or keys, in your car, in the middle of the night. Reliable means of lighting, whether a nice headlamp like the Petzl Tikka or rechargeable solar lanterns like the Packlite Nova, come in very handy when dirt bagging it. ($30 & $25)

Mountain Safety Research PocketRocket 2 Stove

Utopia Kitchen Stainless Steel French Press Mercer, like many of us, doesn’t truly get his day started until he has had a cup, or three, of some good morning joe. “I’ve always loved a good pot of fresh French Press coffee and having the stainless steel kind was crucial for its longevity,” Mercer said. “I don’t know how many glass French Presses I watched get broken on the road but each time it made me appreciate my steel one even more.” ($22)

Crazy Creek Camping Chair

Mercer recommends having another small stove like the MSR PocketRocket 2, for stuff like boiling water as it’s quicker and leaves both the big burners open for actual cooking. ($45)

Nothing beats a comfy spot to sit down after a day of hiking or climbing.

Camping chairs come in all shapes and sizes but getting something compact and light, like the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0, is crucial when living out of your vehicle, according to Mercer. ($59)

YETI Tundra 35 “It’s definitely a big investment, especially for something as simple as a cooler,” Mercer said. “But it’s so nice to know in the back of your head, no matter how hot it has been that day, your food is still going to be fresh and the beers are still going to be cold.” The rugged and dependable nature of YETI coolers were the selling point for Mercer, who said his YETI was one of the most important pieces of gear he had while on the road. ($250)

MORE GEAR Recover Brands Sports Tees and Classic Tees • You’ll feel as good as you look in Recover Brands’ eco-friendly sports tees. These lightweight, moisturewicking tees are made from 100% recycled materials. Or choose a classic tee, also made from 100% recycled materials; we’re particularly fond of the I Heart Pisgah collection of classic tees. Recover Brands generously donates proceeds to protecting Pisgah National Forest. Recover

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S | J U LY 2 0 1 9

collects plastic bottles and salvage cotton, and transforms them into high-quality, sustainable fabrics, and it’s all sourced and knitted locally in the Carolinas.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Mattress • As the absolute lightest insulated air mattress available, the 8.8-ounce UberLite keeps your pack featherweight on the trail. With 2.5 inches of rugged, durable padding, the minimal UberLite makes a big

impact during nights in the backcountry. prAna Furrow Shorts • These highperformance shorts are your go-to pair for everyday adventure.

Made from a sustainable soft hemp blend, you’ll feel as good as you look wearing them. The fabric is surprisingly lightweight and breathable, yet plenty durable for adventure.

Six Moon Designs Flight 30 Pack • This is the ideal pack

for ultra running, fast packing, and bike packing, or anyone chasing a FKT, thanks to the low weight (20 oz), slim design, and adjustable torso length.

It’s offered with or without a hip belt.

Mountain Equipment Inception Pant • A lightweight but tough and fast drying pant for hikers and climbers due to the Ascender nylon fabric. The styling of the Inception Pant offers a relaxed fit but a more tailored look. There

are 2 hand pockets and 1 rear pocket and hem drawcords. The elasticized waist sits perfectly under a harness and the knees are darted for upward mobility. MSRP: $80 SCARPA Spin Ultra • The perfect choice for moderate to ultra distance runs, the new Spin Ultra offers a 6 mm drop in a dual-density EVA midsole, along with a cushioned 24.5 to 18.5 mm stack height, yet it weighs in at a mere 9.3 ounces.

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TRAIL MIX

STEEL WHEELS

KEEP ON TURNING THE STEEL WHEELS EMBRACE CHANGE ON NEW ALBUM, OVER THE TREES

BY JEDD FERRIS

THROUGHOUT THE PAST DECADE AND A HALF,

the Steel Wheels has steadily rolled along as one of Americana’s most prolific string bands. Hailing from the small Shenandoah Valley city of Harrisonburg, Va., the group delivers the earnest lyrics of singer-guitarist Trent Wagler with a collective acoustic alchemy that draws as much from the emotional resonance of gospel music as it does from the nimble chops of traditional bluegrass. On new album Over the Trees, which will be released on July 12, the band’s sonic vision—and lineup—has been tastefully expanded.

The record, the band’s seventh overall, is the group’s first since the full-time addition of multi-instrumentalist Kevin Garcia, who adds flourishes of percussion and keyboards to the well-established woodand-wire synchronicity of Wagler, fiddler Eric Brubaker, bassist Brian Dickel, and mandolin picker Jay Lapp. To make it, the band traveled north to Maine to work with producer Sam Kassirer, whose resume includes work with Josh Ritter and Lake Street Dive.

Garcia’s presence is felt immediately in the opening track “Rains Come,” a stomping world-folk tune with an ominous mood that laments the impending dangers of climate change. “Road Never Ends” also casts a shadow of uncertainty through a mix of cross-cultural rhythms and atmospheric rock. “Keep On” is more optimistic, soaring via propulsive drum fills, sweeping fiddle lines, and uplifting vocal harmonies—another long-held strength of the Steel Wheels.

Lyrically this shift between darkness and light is felt through the record, which is understandably tinged with loss. Earlier this year Brubaker’s 10-year-old daughter unexpectedly passed away after a sudden illness, and, as he explained in a statement, the album “is an ode to the community 66

that rises up to support those in need, and is dedicated to the memory of Norah Brubaker."

That resilience in the face of strife is felt in one of the album’s strongest tracks, “Time to Rest,” which was cowritten by Wagler and North Carolinabased singer-songwriter Sarah Siskind.

With burden-shedding sentiment, the slow-burning ballad strongly evokes the Bob Dylan penned “I Shall Be Released,” most notably found on The Band’s classic album Music from Big Pink. Better days ahead is also the theme of the heartfelt a capella closer “This Year,” which makes a strong case for the healing power of music.

In gentle vocal unison the band ends the album with hopeful grace, singing, “There is no need to worry/There will be peace this year.”

For the seventh consecutive year the Steel Wheels will host the Red Wing Roots Music Festival at Natural Chimneys in Mt. Solon Va., from July 12-14. In addition to the band’s headlining set on Saturday night, the festival will feature performances by Mandolin Orange, Lucinda Williams, the Wood Brothers, Peter Rowan, and the Gibson Brothers.

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S | J U LY 2 0 1 9

Another string outfit from the Commonwealth still thriving through change is the Hackensaw Boys.

Formed two decades ago, the rowdy old-time revivalists used to pack a dozen fiery pickers into a local diner in Charlottesville. As time has gone by the group has seen many iterations, with more than 20 past members, but with a rotating cast of fresh faces, the band still finds ways to continue.

This year founding member David Sickmen is fronting a new crew as a quartet that includes multi-instrumentalist Caleb Powers, who switches between fiddle, mandolin, and banjo. Last month, the Hackensaw’s latest incarnation released a brief taste of its current sound with a solid EP, A Fireproof House of Sunshine. After undergoing surgery to remove polyps in his throat, Sickmen is in fine form, as he delivers the rustic ballad “Pass Loving Eyes” and the swinging front-porch tune “Factory Blues,” a dig at blue-collar exploitation. The closing “You Act Like My Friend” has some of the band’s familiar barn-burning swagger, shaded by a bluesy bent due to declared inspiration from Howlin’ Wolf.

The band is spending a chunk of the summer in Europe, but gigs in its home region should be announced soon, as the group has no plans to slow down. As Sickmen recently explained, “I always thought that our story was about all the people that have come and gone from the band, but I think now the story’s more about a band that just wants to keep developing. It’s not about the past 20 years we put in, it’s more about the next 20 years we want to put in.”

It’s time to unplug, disconnect, and power down. Time to reconnect with your cannonballing, pinecone-hunting, fresh-air-meditating self. And to reengage with unspoiled wilderness, curious wildlife, and real-life humans who share your last name.

It’s time to hike on, breath in, and recharge among the cool mountain breezes.

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